Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education charities are grappling with the challenge of supporting young people to build their skills and confidence in an AI-enabled world. An event convened by The Hg Foundation and Google DeepMind, and facilitated by The Google School for Leaders, brought together senior leaders from 20 UK STEM charities. This report brings together the discussions on the day and the results of a follow up survey, to highlight the key barriers these charities and their users face, and the potential opportunities to supercharge existing efforts by developing key knowledge and skills in AI. 

The main barriers identified included: 

• Effectively training educators in an environment of rapid change

• Constraints on funding for AI-related programmes

• Lack of industry partnerships and knowledge of AI career paths

• Making space for AI in the curriculum and learning environment

• Finding feasible and meaningful opportunities for collaboration

In response to these, six potential solutions emerged: 

• A shared bank of resources on the latest developments in AI

• Additional AI-related Continued Professional Development (CPD) allowance for educators

• Greater connection between AI businesses and professionals, and programmes supporting young people

• Continued action to address the digital divide

• Funding which incentivises collaboration and embraces experimentation

• A repository of curated, quality-assured best practice guidance.