Hannah Joseph, a sophomore at Indian Hill High School in Ohio, has won the 2026 AI Next Generation Award after pitching her nonprofit, Seniors Go Digital, at Cincy AI Week, Village Press reported. She stood out among hundreds of professionals.Since launching in June 2025, Seniors Go Digital has taught hundereds of older adults how to use smartphones, stay safe online and even understand basic AI tools, with help from over 20 student volunteers.Joseph attended Cincy AI Week through Indian Hill Experienceships, a programme that connects students with real-world learning opportunities. The programme operates within the Indian Hill Entrepreneurs’ Center. She took part through the school district’s partnership with Cincinnati AI Catalyst, which gave her an opportunity to learn alongside professionals working with artificial intelligence.For Joseph, however, the experience was about more than learning about AI. She said her biggest lesson was that a person’s age should not stop them from taking initiative.“Cincy AI Week was incredibly eye opening. I learned so much about the possibilities of AI, but my biggest takeaway was something entirely different- initiative has no age requirement,” Joseph said.She said she was surrounded by hundreds of professionals during the event. Rather than allowing her age to make her stay quiet, she made an effort to meet people and learn from them.“Surrounded by hundreds of professionals, I chose not to let being the youngest person in the room make me the quietest,” she said.Joseph introduced herself to attendees, asked questions and stayed after sessions to meet speakers. She also used the opportunity to pitch Seniors Go Digital, her nonprofit.Her approach ultimately led to her being considered for the Cincinnati AI Leadership Awards. According to Indian Hill High School’s announcement, Joseph became the first teenager ever considered for and honoured with a Cincinnati AI Leadership Award.“It showed me that being the youngest person in the room does not limit the impact you can make when you are willing to step forward,” Joseph said.Indian Hill High School Principal Andy Gruber praised Joseph for making the most of an opportunity to enter an unfamiliar professional setting.“Hannah represents what we hope for every student, the courage to step into an unfamiliar space, the curiosity to learn from the people around her, and the confidence to contribute her own ideas,” Gruber said.“Hannah took full advantage of the opportunity, and this recognition speaks volumes about her initiative, leadership, and willingness to make an impact,” he added.
