Artificial intelligence (AI) represents more than just a technological shift it’s a doorway for young Jordanians to transcend boundaries and lead impactful change. Programs like the Generation Z AI Incubator by Auon Jordan are training youth in AI and e-commerce, helping them transform ideas into entrepreneurial ventures that serve the nation’s development goals. This pioneering incubator emphasizes real-world innovation and responds directly to His Majesty’s vision for Jordan’s future.

 

This journey is backed by initiatives such as Orange Jordan’s “AI-Ability” hackathon, held at Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT), where young innovators challenge societal issues through AI. Teams have designed apps like Spendly AI to analyze spending behavior, AirQualityAI to predict air quality, and KeepRemind to embed learning into daily life.

 

UNDP Jordan propels this transformation further with youth-led AI and IoT innovations in water management, enhancing both environmental resilience and economic opportunity. These efforts underscore a rising trend of responsible, tech-driven problem-solving among youth.

 

While entrepreneurship and education form the backbone of progress, broader frameworks like INJAZ cultivate youth competencies in financial literacy and entrepreneurship across Jordan cementing innovation as both an economic and social priority.

 

One of the most promising aspects of AI in Jordan lies in its ability to serve as a bridge between education and employability. Youth unemployment remains a pressing challenge, with official statistics placing it above 40 per cent in some age groups. By embedding AI tools and training into universities, schools, and vocational programs, Jordan can cultivate a generation of innovators who are not merely consumers of global technology but active contributors to it. Initiatives such as the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship’s national AI strategy and collaborations with universities like the University of Jordan and Princess Sumaya University for Technology highlight the growing national awareness of AI’s transformative role. However, these strategies will only succeed if they directly empower youth by equipping them with critical skills in machine learning, data science, and responsible digital innovation.

 

At the same time, Jordanian youth bring a unique cultural and social perspective that can enrich the global AI conversation. Unlike in purely commercial environments, where AI is often developed in isolation from societal context, Jordan’s innovators face daily challenges in education, healthcare, sustainability, and economic participation. This lived experience allows them to design solutions that are not only technically advanced but also socially relevant. For example, young Jordanian entrepreneurs have begun to experiment with AI applications in agriculture to optimize water usage, in healthcare to improve diagnostics, and in education to personalize learning for under-resourced communities. These innovations embody the dual mission of advancing technology while preserving the country’s human-centered values, aligning with Jordan’s broader vision of being a regional leader in knowledge-based economies.

 

AI also offers Jordan’s youth a pathway to become global changemakers, as digital tools transcend geographical boundaries. With robust internet penetration and a vibrant entrepreneurial culture, young Jordanians can leverage AI to engage with global markets, secure remote employment opportunities, and contribute to international innovation ecosystems without leaving their homeland. This dynamic is particularly relevant in the context of Jordan’s brain drain challenge, where talented professionals often emigrate in search of better opportunities. By fostering AI-driven ecosystems that provide global visibility and impact from within Jordan, the country can retain its brightest minds while still integrating into the worldwide economy.

 

Nevertheless, the integration of AI into youth innovation is not without challenges. Concerns about ethical usage, algorithmic bias, and data privacy remain critical. Jordanian policymakers, educators, and entrepreneurs must work together to establish frameworks that ensure AI applications uphold transparency, fairness, and inclusivity. In this context, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship has issued the National Artificial Intelligence Code of Ethics, setting guiding principles for responsible AI use in the country. This ethical grounding is essential not only for protecting citizens but also for distinguishing Jordan as a country where technology serves humanity rather than undermines it. In this way, Jordanian youth can emerge not only as technical innovators but also as ethical leaders in the global AI movement, proving that small nations can contribute significantly to the responsible evolution of technology.

 

Jordan’s journey with AI is still in its early stages, but its trajectory holds immense promise. The Kingdom’s unique combination of a youthful population, a tradition of resilience, and a growing digital infrastructure places it in an ideal position to harness AI for national development. By aligning policies, educational reforms, and entrepreneurial ecosystems with the aspirations of its youth, Jordan can turn its demographic challenge into a demographic dividend. AI, in this context, is not merely a technology but a catalyst for unlocking the next generation of Jordanian changemakers who will shape not only the future of their nation but also contribute meaningfully to the global pursuit of innovation and human progress.

 

Lubna Hanna Ammari is a specialist in educational technology