Commentary: How to talk about AI with your kids – TODAY
Commentary
AI is all around us — influencing what we watch, our shopping choices, and even what we do in our downtime. It’s clear that we must equip our kids with the knowledge and skills to navigate this tech-driven world effectively.
Early research suggests that AI-enabled adaptive learning and virtual tutors can foster a more engaged and efficient learning environment.
From voice assistants to predictive algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer science fiction but a part of everyday life, shaping our world and the future our children will inherit.
With the introduction of ChatGPT and Bard, 2023 has already given us early and continuously evolving indications of this future.
It might seem daunting but, as caregivers, it’s our responsibility to prepare the next generation for this AI-driven landscape.
The impact AI will have on job markets, industries and societies all over the world cannot be understated. PwC predicts that AI will contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with China and North America at the forefront of this economic transformation.
AI’s potential to transform education and enhance learning is also gaining acceptance, with more and more schools and institutions of higher learning exploring how to incorporate such tech in their classrooms.
Early research suggests that AI-enabled adaptive learning and virtual tutors can foster a more engaged and efficient learning environment.
Moreover, AI is all around us — influencing what we watch, our shopping choices, and even what we do in our downtime.
As such, it’s clear that we must equip our kids with the knowledge and skills to navigate this tech-driven world effectively.
Here are some key things to keep in mind when guiding your children in their interactions with AI.
Artificial intelligence is a technology that enables computers to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as problem-solving, learning, and decision-making. Using large datasets, AI creates algorithms to classify, analyse and draw predictions.
Even though AI applications may talk and behave like human beings, it is not a friend or a replacement for social connections. It is merely a tool that can help you perform a wide variety of tasks.
AI holds significant promise in augmenting creativity and boosting productivity. Writing tools like Grammarly or Jasper can help correct grammar, provide synonyms, and generate outlines for essays. Language apps like Talkface provide interactive lessons, pronunciation feedback and real-time translations, making language acquisition more efficient and enjoyable.
Some AI-powered features can help children manage their time efficiently by creating schedules and setting reminders for homework and extracurricular activities.
Through prompting — telling the AI what we want and how we want it — popular apps like Bing or Bard can be used to generate ideas for stories or plays, while image-generating AI apps like Dall-E or Midjourney can create pictures.
For instance, you can ask ChatGPT to write a story about three friends having an adventure in the style of Enid Blyton, or you can specify the format and ask it to respond to a question in three bullet points.
The possibilities are endless, and you can keep experimenting until you get a desired response.
It’s equally important to understand that AI, like all technology, is not infallible. Such systems rely solely on the datasets upon which they are trained to generate results, which may have gaps and errors.
Children should be encouraged to fact-check all results generated by AI tools and verify the sources. This should be a crucial step in any task that involves the use of AI.
It is equally important for schools and teachers to know that no tool currently exists that can definitively detect AI-generated content.
Therefore, children should not be penalised for AI-generated work, but encouraged to question and evaluate the veracity of it by checking sources. This will encourage a critical mindset by emphasising that AI tools are only as good as the data and instructions they receive.
Some AI chatbots can use foul language, show harmful content, or even perpetrate privacy leaks when sensitive or personal information is unintentionally disclosed or accessed.
This should not dissuade parents from letting their kids use AI. Instead, kids should be allowed to approach it with curiosity and taught to use it responsibly, just as they would learn road safety rules.
While most AI apps have safety features – including stringent data handling practices, strong encryption, and age-appropriate content filtering – the use of parental controls and supervision is encouraged as kids are learning to use such tools.
At the same time, it’s important to balance virtual experiences with real-world interactions. Parents should continue to encourage outdoor play, face-to-face communication, and hands-on activities so that kids can develop well-rounded skills.
The key is to see AI as a collaborative tool that can augment human capability and creativity — not as a replacement for it.
Just as we cultivate good citizenship values within our local communities, fostering responsible digital citizenship is equally vital.
Parents can serve as role models in this regard. This entails showing respect for others’ privacy and security, refraining from misusing AI to cause harm or deceit, and employing their knowledge for constructive ends.
Encouraging kids to maintain a sense of curiosity and inquisitiveness about technology is crucial. They should feel empowered to ask questions whenever they come across systems that appear unfamiliar or perplexing.
By demystifying AI, acknowledging its limitations, and instilling a sense of responsibility, we can equip our children to thrive in this new age.
This conversation is a crucial step in building a generation of informed and responsible global citizens who will shape the AI-driven future for the better.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr Gayathri Haridas is a policy manager at public policy consultancy Access Partnership where her work focuses on the impact of digital technologies on society. Gayathri is a technology and innovation policy specialist who has experience in advising governments and corporations on policy and strategy during times of intense change and uncertainty.
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