Fifteen years ago, a helpful blog post might have listed five ways parents can assist their children in becoming computer literate. As the wave of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine intelligence (MI) crashes over society, it is now vital that parents assist their children in becoming “reality” literate.
One of the cunning aspects of chatbots such as ChatGPT and others from Microsoft and Google are that they return information to users in natural language. Unlike a simple Google search that returns text and links scraped from the internet, AI synthesizes millions of bits of information and seeks to “chat” with the user as a means of cultivating a relationship. Users, especially younger users, may be fooled into thinking there is a real person on the other side of the conversation. That could be costly.
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A technology columnist from The Washington Post recently introduced himself as a 13 year old to Snapchat’s My AI chatbot and asked for advice on how he could make his upcoming birthday epic. Ultimately, the conversation led to what many families would consider age-inappropriate suggestions.
The article was transparent about the fact that certain leading questions were fed into the neural network (an aspect of AI that processes data using techniques modeled after the human brain) but the piece does powerfully illustrate the ease by which a machine can seek complicity with the human user and fool the uninitiated into thinking they are forming a relationship with a rational being.
The best way to combat this dangerous misconception is through understanding and education. However daunting, parents need to take the time to fully research and understand these new technologies which are available to their children with the click of a button. Tools are emerging for even our youngest students to look under the hood of AI. Here are five powerful learning resources for parents:
The A.I. Chatbots Have Arrived. Time to Talk to Your Kids
This New York Times article makes a solid case for discussing AI with children. “Many parents, who are already distressed about their children’s dependence on digital devices and the mental health ramifications of social media, may be tempted to bury their heads in the sand. Instead, experts say families should explore this technology together, thinking critically about its strengths and weaknesses,” says the author and mother of two Christina Caron.
AI Guide for Parents
Before you can discuss AI with your children, you need to fully understand the opportunities and associated risks of this technology. A good place to start is this helpful guide prepared by UNICEF.
Zohrai: A Conversational Agent
To help students in grade three to five understand the social impact of artificial intelligence and brainstorm the implications of bias in AI, this conversational agent interacts with children and allows them to explore ethics in AI.
At-home conversations: 4-Steps to Debating technology and AI with your child
This resource presents an approach to and specific tips for debating technology usage and specifically AI at home with children. The guide also outlines ground rules for productive debates and their value in the household by exploring alternate perspectives.
Guide to ChatGPT for Parents and Caregivers
This article from Common Sense Media hones in on the much discussed ChatGPT. Although the tool requires users to be over the age of 18, why not explore the technology side-by-side with your child? This article explains how to access the tool, sign up, and get started. “Families can explore the tool together and try prompts that are fun, inspiring, or helpful. Ask it to write a play with parts for everyone, or put together a poem in Yoda's style to read out loud,” the article recommends.
Hopefully, these resources will help parents/caregivers and their children learn and grow together, and in the process of exploring the new world of artificial intelligence, develop “real” and deeper bonds.
