Preparing Gen Alpha: Parents Embrace AI Education
In an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, a growing number of parents are proactively introducing their children to AI tools like ChatGPT and Dall-E. These parents aim to equip their children with the skills to navigate and leverage these technologies responsibly.
Jules White, a Vanderbilt University computer science professor, once believed coding was the key to his son’s success. Now, he argues that knowing how to prompt AI is a more critical skill. Since ChatGPT’s release in 2022, White has been showing his son, James, the ropes of generative AI, starting with games the chatbot could create using photos of toys. He even had James debunk ChatGPT-generated world record claims to expose its flaws. This hands-on approach has equipped James, now in fifth grade, to integrate AI into various activities, from creating study materials to determining the cost of items.
“My goal isn’t to make him a generative AI wizard,” White explained. “It’s to give him a foundation for using AI to be creative, build, explore perspectives and enrich his learning.”
Parents are curious about how AI will affect their children’s development, with almost a third expressing concern about AI tools like ChatGPT being used for cheating in schools, according to a 2023 Ipsos poll. Despite limited research, organizations like Unicef are questioning the impact of over-reliance on AI for homework on cognitive development. Moreover, AI’s rapid evolution poses challenges for less tech-savvy parents, with only 16% of parents of kindergarten through 12th-grade students expressing a firm grasp of AI’s capabilities, as shown by a National Parents Union poll.
While OpenAI and Google’s terms of service restrict usage to users 13 and older, some parents are cautiously introducing AI to their young children, hoping to emphasize that AI is a tool that expands, rather than limits, human abilities. These parents believe early exposure can boost creativity, critical thinking, and communication skills.
Ola Handford, an AI consultant, introduced ChatGPT to her children when they were nine and 12 years old, using weekly ‘Friday Fun Nights’ to explore the technology’s potential. The family uses AI for research, recipes, debates, and planning trips. These activities spark discussions about potential risks, such as deepfakes and AI companions, which Handford sees as a high-priority concern. She shows her children tools like Character.ai and emphasizes that AI companions are not real people, and could have “serious consequences” if treated accordingly.
White also emphasizes responsible AI usage with his son. His activities are designed to highlight AI’s ability to unlock creative possibilities, such as creating games that aid learning, rather than just acting as a search engine. According to White, without guidance, children could misuse ChatGPT to cheat on schoolwork, leading to “intellectual laziness.”
“If your goal is to copy and paste ChatGPT’s answer, you’re not really contributing to society,” White stated. He hopes his son will see AI as a tool for reimagining processes in the workforce, where AI skills are growing in demand.
Kunal Dalal, an administrator of AI at the Orange County Department of Education, uses AI daily with his four-year-old son to bond. They use ChatGPT for music creation and AI art generators to produce personalized images. He utilizes ChatGPT to facilitate open conversations with his son, a tactic he calls the “triangle of communication.” If his son is upset, Dalal uses ChatGPT to receive suggestions on how to offer comfort, which subsequently strengthens their real conversations and their relationship.
However, some experts caution about the potential pitfalls of over-reliance on AI. Ying Xu, a Harvard University assistant professor studying AI’s impact on children and families, warns that kids may lose trust in their parents if they view AI’s knowledge as supreme. She emphasizes that it’s crucial for parents to monitor their children’s AI use.
Parents interviewed by the Guardian prioritize supervision and a controlled environment. White and Dalal only allow their children to use ChatGPT on their devices with permission, while Handford restricts AI use during personal periods. Dalal also caps the amount of ChatGPT querying his son can do to limit environmental effects.
Looking ahead, White and others plan to explore new AI tools with their children, like AI agents, to continue the education of their kids as they grow. “I’m excited about agentic AI,” White said. “We haven’t explored that yet, but it’s next on the list.”
