Shaping the Future: Student Perspectives on AI, Belonging & the Human Condition
Over the past few months, Da Vinci students from across all of our schools have engaged in a series of authentic, youth-led conversations about artificial intelligence—exploring its possibilities, its risks, and its impact on belonging, identity, and human connection.
The Rithm Exchange Pilot is a powerful partnership between Da Vinci Schools and The Rithm Project. Together, they created space for students to explore complex, open-ended questions: How does AI shape identity and creativity? What does it mean to belong in an increasingly digital world? And where do we find connection as technology continues to evolve?
Rather than abstract debate, students grounded their reflections in lived experience. They spoke candidly about the tension between innovation and uncertainty—the promise of new tools alongside concerns about creativity, jobs, and human connection. They also surfaced something more personal: the desire to be heard, understood, and seen in a rapidly changing landscape.
The Rithm Exchange Pilot was designed as more than a learning experience—it was a platform for student voice. Through it, Da Vinci students demonstrated curiosity, courage, and a strong sense of responsibility in how they engage with emerging technologies.
We’re excited to share highlights from their work and invite you to explore the media created by our students. Their perspectives offer a powerful reminder that young people are not just observing the future of AI—they are actively shaping it.
Thank you to our students from Da Vinci Communications, Connect, Design, RISE, and Science for your courage, insight, and humanity. And thank you to Erin Whalen, Karim Bailey, and Sicard Whalen who helped bring our students' voices to life.
To view highlights, click here.
