Love it or hate it, artificial intelligence isn’t going away: It’s already infiltrating the beauty industry, healthcare, and even the dating world. As artificial intelligence continues to impact nearly every aspect of life, education is critical. Adults are doing their best to navigate on-the-fly, but it’s just as important to talk to kids about artificial intelligence, as a recent Washington Post study found chatbots are primarily used for homework and sex.
The huge rise of artificial intelligence can feel overwhelming. Leticia Barr, a parenting and technology expert, said artificial intelligence is a technology that enables computers to perform a variety of advanced functions that typically require human intelligence, such as understanding speech, recognizing images and making informed decisions. “Think of AI as the brains behind the technology you use every day,” she said.
Whether you realize it or not, artificial intelligence is constantly shaping the content you and your children consume based on what it “thinks” you might like, says clinical psychologist Dr. Jessica Flannery. From TikTok algorithms to Netflix show recommendations to Siri’s suggestions for nearby restaurants for dinner, artificial intelligence is everywhere.
As a result, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence is changing the way children interact with technology on a daily basis. “Artificial intelligence is quietly changing what children see, do and how they think,” said artificial intelligence expert Stephanie Worrell. “AI-powered tools offer great educational and entertainment opportunities, but they also come with risks. , especially in terms of online security and data privacy.”
We talk to three experts about how to talk to kids about artificial intelligence, and manageable steps to keep everyone safe and informed.
Experts featured in this article
Leticia Barr is a parenting and education expert at AI fan education company Brainly.
Dr. Jessica Flannery is a registered clinical psychologist and Chief Parent of digital security service Aura.
Stephanie Worrell is an artificial intelligence expert and author of Raising Artificial Intelligence-Smart Kids.
How to talk to your kids about artificial intelligence
start early
It’s entirely up to you and your family when you introduce the concept of artificial intelligence, but Worrell recommends starting the conversation as early as ages 5 to 8: “Tie it to how their toys or apps work, And reinforce the idea that artificial intelligence can help.
Siri and Alexa are simple examples of how artificial intelligence affects, interacts with and supports everyday life, but children may appreciate that their favorite apps and algorithms (such as TikTok, YouTube and Netflix) are also powered by artificial intelligence behind the scenes ”, added Flannery.
Using AI tools together
Flannery said one of the best ways for parents to teach their children to use artificial intelligence safely and responsibly is to use these tools with them. “As a parent, you’re learning too. Approach the conversation from a collaborative perspective, working on the technology together.” Don’t frame the conversation as accusations or that you don’t trust your child, but instead explain that you’re learning about artificial intelligence as a team. detail.
Flannery said this not only opens the door to questions, concerns and critical thinking, but helps keep the conversation going. “Do your best to be an open source so kids can come to you, especially if they see something online that’s scary, untrue, or inappropriate.”
Set expectations
Once your child receives their own phone or device, Worrell says, set clear expectations about how to use AI tools responsibly. “Explain how their data is used by artificial intelligence applications (such as chatbots or recommendation systems), and tell them why it’s important not to share too much personal information online.” Reiterate that their full name, address, school and other sensitive information should Stay offline and never share with chatbots.
Barr says it’s also a good idea to differentiate between productive and passive screen time. “Effective use of the technology will be for homework help and projects, while passive use will be scrolling or consuming content for entertainment.” Consider setting time limits on passive screen time, she explains.
When it comes to homework, emphasize that AI should not “do” the homework for you. “Teachers always know when children are using artificial intelligence tools to complete assignments, so it is important to distinguish between plagiarism and the use of artificial intelligence in the learning process,” Barr said.
Worrell agreed, noting that children should use artificial intelligence to simplify complex homework assignments without becoming overly reliant on it. “Our goal is to enhance learning, not replace learning.” Flannery and Barr recommend Khan Academy, Prodigy, Osmo and Brainly to encourage efficient and safe learning through artificial intelligence.
Consider installing privacy controls
Just like you want to take care to protect the privacy of your personal information, Worrell recommends talking with your kids about how to protect their artificial intelligence devices (such as phones, tablets, and smart speakers) to prevent unnecessary sharing of data. “Check the privacy settings on every AI-enabled device your child uses, disable location services, and make sure you only allow access to your microphone and camera when necessary,” she says. Whenever possible, it’s also wise to enable two-factor authentication for an added layer of security.
If you want to monitor your child’s AI usage, Flannery recommends Aura Parental Controls, which allows you to block harmful content and filter apps and websites.
Address error message
Worrell said misinformation is rampant in all corners of the web, so it’s important to address the issue that artificial intelligence is not the final authority. Remind your children that not everything about artificial intelligence is real, and while it can help and/or enhance learning, it can also provide misinformation. “Children are encouraged to think critically about the information provided by AI, as not all information provided by AI is accurate or unbiased and children need to understand how to evaluate what they see.”
It’s easy to take everything at face value, but Barr recommends regularly reminding children to question online content and differentiate between reliable and unreliable sources. “Ultimately, we hope to make kids media literate by encouraging critical thinking and reminding kids not to believe everything they read online.”
keep the conversation going
Worrell said the AI conversation shouldn’t be a one-and-done deal. “Talk to your children regularly about their online experiences and create an open environment where they feel comfortable sharing any concerns or questions they have about their digital lives.”
The bottom line is that artificial intelligence is here to stay, so Flannery recommends not dismissing its relevance or impact on lives, but instead starting a nonjudgmental conversation. “It’s normal and expected that children will explore artificial intelligence. Focus on their use cases and put those guardrails in place without inhibiting their growth.”
