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- Kids and AI: Safe or Scary?
Portable music relic from the Stone Age, a.k.a. the Walkman
Ever wonder how our children will navigate an AI-powered future?
We usually discuss AI in the context of boosting efficiencies and propelling businesses forward. But I can’t help but think how these same opportunities will shape my kids - how they interact with technology, with each other, and with the world around them.
While AI may seem like an exciting new era in tech, for our children, it will be the norm. AI is here to stay, and its integration into various aspects of society, including education, is inevitable.
Today, we'll explore opportunities and potential risks AI presents for our children.
Let’s get into it.
P.S. let me know if you’d like more on this topic - just hit reply and send your thoughts.
🌟 AI Opportunities for Kids
💡 Enhanced Learning
ChatGPT opens up a world of information for young users. It can help them dive into topics, answer their questions, and break down complex ideas.
Kids can ask questions naturally without having to go through endless search results and evaluate each source. They can simply chat with AI, which gives them straightforward and mostly trustworthy answers.
🙋🏻♀️ Personalized Learning
AI can customize learning experiences, and tailor educational content to each student's unique needs and preferences. It can provide personalized recommendations and resources, which can boost engagement and learning outcomes.
Take my high school struggle with advanced math as an example. It wasn’t until college that one of my professors explained calculus in terms of why it should matter to cognitive science students vs. economics students that it finally “clicked.”
Today, young learners can ask a chatbot to simplify any topic and provide countless examples until they “get it.”
🧑🏽💻 Language Learning & Communication Skills
Chatting with an AI bot is an engaging way to learn languages and practice communicating. This interaction can be quite motivating for youngsters.
As kids grow up with this tech, the knack for asking precise, effective questions becomes crucial. After all, clear, concise communication is the key to creating effective prompts and having meaningful interactions.
🎼 Creativity Expression
AI can inspire creativity by enabling young people to explore artistic domains. Generative AI tools can generate music, create visual art, and assist in creative writing. Students can collaborate with AI systems, explore new possibilities and push the boundaries of their artistic expression. This intersection of AI and creativity can foster innovation and imagination. It can be a starting point for learning or for creating.
😎 Interactive Learning Experiences
AI technologies mixed with virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), can create immersive and interactive learning experiences. These technologies can bring abstract concepts to life that can enable students to explore and engage with subjects in a more hands-on and experiential manner.
🧬 STEM Education
AI can give simulations and problem-solving activities that allow students to explore complex scientific concepts and develop critical thinking skills. AI can also assist in data analysis and computational modeling, to help enhance students' understanding of STEM disciplines.
I’ve been blown away by what my husband has built with ChatGPT guidance and coding assistance. I can’t even begin to imagine how my kids will use it to build and create.
⚠️ AI Risks for Kids
😵💫 Decreased Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving
Relying too much on AI for things like decision-making or problem-solving can create a tech dependency. And that could get in the way of developing independent thinking, problem-solving skills, and creativity among our youngsters.
Kids must learn to explore diverse sources of information and solutions beyond AI.
👉 True story 👈 When I first dabbled with ChatGPT, I asked my 14-year-old stepson what he was learning in social studies class. Then I “challenged” ChatGPT to write a 500-word essay on the topic using a teenager's perspective. Perfectly good essay. It’s clear how kids might are tempted to take shortcuts. Our school systems will need to adapt.
🐍 Bias
Large language models like ChatGPT and Bard learn from loads of internet text, which unfortunately carries biases found in that data. These can show up as gender, racial, or cultural biases. So when kids chat with AI, they might/will unknowingly get skewed info or perspectives. We have to keep that in mind.
⬛️ Interpretability
AI models like ChatGPT or Bard are often referred to as "black boxes" because they make decisions based on complex algorithms that can be difficult to understand. This lack of interpretability raises concerns about accountability and transparency. Young users, like adults, may receive responses or recommendations from AI systems without fully understanding why those choices were made.
❌ Inaccurate Information
AI language models can produce inaccurate or misleading responses. The first priority for large language models is to be believable, not to be accurate. Young users who rely heavily on AI for information may/will be exposed to misinformation or incorrect facts.
😐 Social Isolation
If young people spend significant amounts of time interacting with AI systems instead of engaging in face-to-face interactions or seeking human companionship, it may impact their social and emotional development.
🧠 Psychological Impact
Interacting with AI systems, especially chatbots that mimic human conversation, can sometimes stir up emotional responses in kids. They might form attachments, expect too much, or feel connected to AI entities, which could impact their emotional health and social growth.
It’s important to remember that although interacting with a chatbot may feel like talking with a human, it’s really a machine on the other end.
🛡️ Privacy & Safety Issues
AI doesn’t know if the person chatting with it is 5, 15 or 45. Children could easily be exposed to harmful or adult content.
Many AI platforms collect and store data to improve their performance and services. This data could include personal information, preferences, conversations, or online behavior patterns. This can pose privacy risks.
Children might interact with AI systems without fully understanding the implications of sharing personal information. They might inadvertently disclose sensitive data, like their location, personal identifiers, or even information about their daily routines
Whew - alright, that was a lot. So, what do we do with all that?
Advice on AI for parents
Promote Digital Literacy: Teach your kids about online safety, privacy, and digital citizenship. Let them know the importance of not sharing personal information and being respectful in their online interactions.
Set Boundaries: Establish clear rules about when and how AI tools can be used. This could include setting screen-time limits or designating certain times for technology-free activities.
Keep the Conversation Open: Make sure your child feels comfortable coming to you with any questions or concerns about their interactions with AI. Regularly discuss the positives and negatives, and navigate this digital landscape together.
Give them this Pro Tip: When kids get a response from ChatGPT or Bard that sounds like a fact, they can ask ChatGPT/Bard to confirm if those statements are true or made up. They can also ask for a source. Fact-checking AI results is necessary.
By setting a positive example and providing the right guidance, parents can ensure that their kids make the most out of AI in a safe and beneficial way.
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🛠️ AI tools and resources
Jasper- helps businesses create high-quality content faster
Otter AI - accurate meeting notes and transcriptions
Outfits AI - try on clothes and styles virtually
Storytimes AI - personalized books for kids
Paper Brain - access and understand research papers
🎁 We launched an AI Tools Directory with 400+ AI tools you can use to make your work faster and easier - check it out (absolutely free)!
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