Making generative AI accessible to all: how the GENIE project supports inclusive digital education, empowers adults with fewer opportunities and promotes a more conscious use of emerging technologies in Europe
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Generative Artificial Intelligence is no longer a technology for experts: it is entering daily life, work, education and services. However, for this transformation to be truly sustainable, it is essential that no one is left behind.
This vision gave rise to GENIE – Generative AI for Inclusive Education and Empowerment, an Erasmus+ project involving organizations from Lithuania, Slovenia, Estonia and Italy. Its goal is to make AI accessible, understandable and useful even for adults with fewer educational or digital opportunities.
The project, run by a consortium of five partners from four European countries – VsI Robotikos Mokykla (lead partner, Lithuania), STEP Institut (Slovenia), Eesti Vabaharidusliit MTU (Estonia), IFOA (Italy), Kauno Apskrities Viešoji Biblioteka (Lithuania) – aims to create innovative educational tools to help adults and educators use generative AI in their daily and professional lives.
Inclusive training for digital citizenship
GENIE addresses a central theme for Europe's future: the digital divide. Many people, including the elderly, the unemployed, vulnerable citizens, migrants, or workers with low digital skills, risk being excluded from the benefits of technological innovation.
The project responds to this challenge through:
Pilot courses dedicated to adults;
Specific training for educators;
Accessible and multilingual educational materials;
An online platform featuring content, videos, and self-learning tools.
The goal is not just to teach how to use tools like ChatGPT, but to develop a critical, creative, and conscious approach to AI. It aims to demonstrate how these technologies can support daily activities, from writing texts to searching for information, from communication to problem-solving.
Pilot course results
One of the most significant aspects of the project involves the field-testing phase. The pilot courses will involve hundreds of adults across the partner countries, with a particular focus on participants with fewer opportunities.
The training activities are proving that even among individuals initially distant from the digital world, it is possible to develop new skills and increase confidence, autonomy, and social participation.
The data gathered through questionnaires, evaluation activities and educational research highlight:
An improvement in digital skills;
Greater confidence in using AI tools;
An increase in motivation for lifelong learning;
The development of soft skills and collaborative abilities.
Furthermore, the educators involved are acquiring new teaching methodologies that can be transferred to other educational and professional contexts.
A European project oriented towards sustainability
GENIE aligns perfectly with European priorities regarding digital transformation and social inclusion. Specifically, the project promotes:
Accessibility to digital skills;
Lifelong learning;
Active citizenship and participation;
The responsible use of emerging technologies.
Special attention is also paid to the sustainability of these actions: all materials will be available online free of charge and can continue to be used even after the project concludes.
Looking to the future with new skills
At a time when AI is rapidly changing the labor market and society, GENIE demonstrates that innovation can also be a tool for inclusion, empowerment, and collective growth.
Sharing the results of this experience means encouraging citizens, educators, and organizations to explore new educational possibilities and to take an active part in Europe's digital transformation.
To learn more about the project, follow the development of its activities, and access the materials produced, you can visit the official project website and the channels of the partners involved.