First Lady Melania Trump unveiled the Fostering the Future Together initiative during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The initiative invites nations to support the well-being of children through education, innovation, and technology.
Mrs. Trump described the initiative’s goal as ensuring that “every child can flourish in the digital era.” The initiative’s inaugural meeting will be held at the White House during the first quarter of 2026.
“As children, we all played marbles, flew paper airplanes and ran with the string in our hand, watching our kites lift off,” the first lady explained. “Great minds have turned marbles into microchips, paper airplanes into drones and kites into satellites.”
“Innovation is wonderful. Our nations benefit from advancements in technology—saving lives, expanding access to knowledge, connecting people, and of course, safety,” she said.
The coalition will work with the private sector to provide access to “innovative education technology, including artificial intelligence, robotics, and blockchain,” a White House press release explains. The effort will also include an “exchange of solutions encompassing advantages and risks of artificial intelligence.”
In August, Mrs. Trump announced a nationwide AI challenge for K-12 students, inviting them to participate in an event to “discover, develop, and expand AI’s potential.”
The Presidential AI Challenge, is intended to “unleash their imagination and showcase the spirit of American innovation,” the first lady said.
“Early training in the responsible use of AI tools will demystify this technology and prepare America’s students to be confident participants in the AI-assisted workforce, propelling our Nation to new heights of scientific innovation and economic achievement,” the site explains, directing participants in the challenge to “complete a project that involves the study, development, or use of an AI method or tool to address community challenges, while educators will focus on creative approaches to teaching or using AI technologies in K-12 learning.”
