Reclaiming Agency in the Age of AI

Asociația Techsoup, a long-time advocate for strengthening digital agency in Romania, collaborated with Tactical Tech to host their own Hello AI! Exhibition, Tactical Tech’s pop-up intervention addressing tough questions about AI: how it really works, the powers behind the scenes, and how it impacts society and the environment.

As the organisation marked its 15th anniversary, they chose to host the exhibition as part of an event themed “15 Years of Relationships. Intersections. Bridges.” The exhibition became a central element of the experience, creating an opportunity to engage their community at a time when AI is rapidly shaping public conversations in Romania.

At the core of Asociația Techsoup’s work is a strong commitment to user agency. They emphasise that a different digital future depends on people having the power to shape and use technology in ways that support human flourishing. Technology, in this view, should serve as a tool for solving problems, strengthening communities, and enabling growth.

Yet current realities point to a different trajectory. Democratic backsliding, declining mental health among young people, and a growing sense of disconnection highlight the urgent need for more human-centred approaches to technology.

Through their programmes, Asociația Techsoup works to address this gap by supporting nonprofits, teachers, and students in becoming informed and active participants in digital environments.

Their initiatives focus on capacity building for civil society, digital citizenship for young people, and programming and AI literacy for students. By offering professional development, classroom-ready resources, and sustained communities of practice, they equip educators to foster computational, creative, and critical thinking skills.

Their work prioritises schools in small towns and rural areas, ensuring that access to these opportunities extends beyond major urban centres.

Tactical Tech’s collaboration with Asociația Techsoup grew out of a shared commitment to critical engagement with technology. They had followed Tactical Tech’s work for years and were drawn to the way our resources combine research, design, and intercultural perspectives.

Hello AI! aligned closely with their goals for the anniversary event, particularly their intention to spark conversations about how much agency people are outsourcing to the tools they use, and how that agency might be reclaimed.

Hosting the exhibition reinforced the importance of experiential learning when addressing complex and often overhyped topics such as AI. By creating a physical space for exploration and dialogue, the exhibition enabled visitors to slow down and engage more deeply with the subject matter.

Many guests, including those working in technology and education, reflected on how rare it is to have time and space to think critically about the tools they use every day. The exhibition provided not just information, but an opportunity for shared reflection.

These interactions also revealed important insights. Visitors were often surprised by the extent of their own technology use and by broader national patterns. In Romania, social media usage closely mirrors overall internet adoption, and mobile devices are deeply embedded in daily life.

At the same time, the rapid uptake of generative AI tools shows both enthusiasm and a need for deeper understanding. People are engaging with these technologies, but often without sufficient opportunities to critically assess their implications.

For Asociația Techsoup, these reflections reaffirm the direction of their work. Since the emergence of generative AI, they have focused on education about AI rather than simply integrating AI into educational processes.

This distinction shapes their programmes and highlights the importance of understanding how AI systems function, what assumptions they embed, and how they influence behaviour.

Looking ahead, Asociația Techsoup is expanding these efforts. Through initiatives such as the Digital Civic Incubator, they have already trained more than 3,000 teachers in digital citizenship and democratic competences.

In 2026, they will take the Hello AI! exhibition on tour across Romania, bringing it to youth festivals such as the One World human rights documentary festival in Bucharest and to schools in smaller urban communities.

These exhibitions will be paired with workshops on digital rights, creating further opportunities for young people to engage critically with technology.

Our partnership with Asociația Techsoup reflects the broader goals of Tactical Tech’s work. By supporting organisations that are deeply rooted in their local contexts, we aim to create interventions that are both relevant and impactful.

Together, we are opening up spaces where people can question, reflect, and better understand the technologies shaping their lives.

Fifteen years into their work, Asociația Techsoup continues to ask a fundamental question: technology for what, and for whom? Through Hello AI!, this question becomes part of a shared conversation, inviting more people to actively participate in shaping a more thoughtful and human-centred digital future.

At a moment when artificial intelligence feels both inescapable and opaque, Tactical Tech’s Hello AI! exhibition creates space to pause, question, and understand.

Designed as a modular, pop-up experience, the exhibition invites audiences to explore how AI systems work, where they fall short, and what their growing presence means for individuals and society.

Through accessible and visually engaging posters, Hello AI! breaks down complex topics such as algorithms, chatbots, hidden labour, environmental costs, and bias, encouraging visitors not only to learn but also to reflect.