Sneha Revanur: Gen-Z’s Voice for Ethical AI and Global Regulation
Artificial intelligence is shaping our future at a pace no generation has seen before. From the way we communicate to the way governments make decisions, AI is no longer a distant technology it’s here, influencing lives in real time. Amid this transformation, Sneha Revanur, a young activist from California, has emerged as a powerful voice for ethical AI regulation.
At just 18, Sneha has already founded a global youth-led movement, Encode Justice, and positioned herself as a trusted voice in the highest levels of tech policy discussion. She is proof that youth activism in AI regulation is not only possible but essential.
The Early Spark: Starting at the Local to a Global Perspective
Sneha grew up in San Jose, which was the epicenter of Silicon Valley and thus technology surrounded her. Her family was in software family so talking about innovation and progress was a daily way of life. And she had witnessed the other, too the unintentional outcomes of unmonitored deployment of technology.
She experienced a turning point in high school when she got to know that algorithms were being applied in the criminal justice system. She was shocked by reports of bias in AI in decision-making. She thought that if these tools could decide something drastic like sentencing or bail they needed more oversight and transparency.
It was not a light realization. It made her take some action thereby forming an organization that focuses on human friendly AI control, Encode Justice. The mission of the group: make technology a fair game to all people irrespective of the race, income, or geography.
Establishing Encode Justice: Power of the Youth
Sneha initiated Encode Justice in the fight against the California Proposition 25 that sought to change cash bail to risk assessment algorithms. Although such proposal looked like justice at the surface, Sneha was aware that the off and on input to these algorithms was racially and socio-economically biased. The campaign was able to create awareness regarding the faults and it demonstrates the impression that young voices in AI policy can have an impression.
This state-level movement became intercontinental in scale very soon. Encode Justice is active today in over thirty countries across the world with hundreds of young members pushing towards the responsible innovation and ethics of AI. The organization guides youth on online workshops, policy lobbying and other means to contribute to defining the future of technology.
An explanation of why the matter of Youth Representation in AI
Lawmakers and visionaries in the field tend to make AI policies, decades later removed than the youth digital-first life circumstances. But it is current teenagers and young adults who will have to bear the consequences of such policies the longest.
Sneha reiterates on several occasions that young people must not only be consumers of AI but involved in all aspects of its governance. Young people bear particular risks, whether it is facial recognition in schools, the use of AI-powered recruitment or deep fake misinformation and they have innovative insights into potential solutions.
That is why Sneha and Encode Justice espouse youth representations on policymaking tables including legislative hearings, international AI summits, and advisory boards in corporations. The fact that she is being heard at the table of policymakers such as the U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has demonstrated that leaders are listening.
The leap out of the Classroom to the Global Stage
It is notable that Sneha was already speaking to an international audience when she was only in a high school. She has engaged in G7-level discussion on AI policy, been added to the White House Blueprint on an AI Bill of Rights and co-authored a policy brief on recommendations toward ethical adoption of AI.
Among the most remarkable Encode initiatives is AI2030 platform, which is a detailed plan regarding AI safety, involving such measures as bias auditing, transparency protocols, and international agreements on AI utilization. Major figures in AI research, policy and civil society leaders across the globe have pledged support on the platform.
The Core Principles Behind Her Advocacy
Sneha’s approach to AI regulation is built on five interconnected principles:
- Equity – Technology should work for everyone, not just the privileged.
- Transparency – AI systems must be understandable and accountable.
- Safety – There must be clear safeguards against misuse.
- Inclusivity – Diverse voices, especially youth, must be part of policy design.
- Global Cooperation – AI ethics must be a worldwide effort, not just a local initiative.
These principles are not abstract ideals; they guide real policy proposals that Sneha and her team push in legislative and industry forums.
Recognition and Influence
Sneha’s leadership has earned her recognition far beyond youth activism circles. She was the youngest person named to TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in AI, and she has been featured in outlets like The Washington Post, MIT Technology Review, and Teen Vogue.
Her work has also been recognized with awards from organizations like the Algorithmic Justice League, and she continues to speak at major events including the World Economic Forum and global AI ethics conferences.
Challenges Facing AI Regulation Today
While AI offers enormous potential for innovation, Sneha warns against rushing deployment without adequate safeguards. Some of the biggest challenges she highlights include:
- Algorithmic Bias – When training data reflects societal biases, AI systems can reinforce inequality.
- Lack of Transparency – Many AI models operate as “black boxes” with little clarity on how decisions are made.
- Rapid Adoption – Governments and corporations are adopting AI faster than they can regulate it.
- Global Disparities – Wealthier nations have more resources to manage AI risks, creating ethical and safety imbalances.
By addressing these challenges now, Sneha believes we can prevent AI from becoming another tool of exclusion and harm.
A New Model of Leadership
Sneha represents a leadership style that is collaborative, inclusive, and values-driven. Instead of focusing solely on what’s wrong with AI, she’s also building networks to create positive change. This includes:
- Training young people in AI ethics.
- Creating open-access resources for schools and communities.
- Partnering with international NGOs to strengthen AI policy literacy.
This mix of education, activism, and policy advocacy makes her a standout figure in the global AI ethics movement.
One Step into the Future: Encode Justice
It is through the evolution of AI that the work of Encode Justice will evolve at the same time. In future, the organization will further its research work, intensify partnership with policymakers and provide more chances to the youths to engage in global AI discussions.
The advancement of values of fairness, safety, and inclusion in deciding how AI works as well as the voice of the youth in the regulation of AI are not the exception but the rule in the new world that Sneha is looking to create in the long term.
The import of the Work of Sneha to Everybody
Whether or not you are a coder or policymaker, AI is already changing your life in the forms of social media recommendations and job applicant recruitment systems. Sneha is not only promoting her cause to the tech insiders but to all of us concerned with living in a well-ethical society in which technology is utilized.
Her experience serves as a reminder there is no need to have decades in the experience to have an impact related to policy. You have to be knowledgeable, have passion and most importantly the boldness to stand up qualities that Sneha has proved to stand strong with.
Final Thoughts: The Power of Youth in Shaping AI’s Future
The story of sneha Revanur is not that of AI; it is of what would take place when young people stand up to say no to the passive role of determining their future. She has made it clear that organization, persistence and clear vision are the keys to finding solutions to even the most sophisticated global issues by means of youth-initiated actions.
During the next few years, when the face of industries and societies will be turning toward AI, individuals such as Sneha will be crucial to the idea that responsibility has to be as major a trend as the innovation itself. In case our future will be determined by AI we should ensure that it will show the values we wish to live by and that is what Sneha is demonstrating it can do.
