Our Children, With AI… Why Experts Are Concerned 🤖

Hello! 👋

Technology seems to be permeating every aspect of our lives these days. As I encounter news that AI is naturally becoming a part of the daily lives of children, not just adults, I find myself deeply contemplating this topic. Parents with young children, in particular, likely have many concerns about how to manage their children's screen time healthily and safely, and what to be wary of in interactions with AI chatbots.

How Much Has Children's AI Usage Increased?

Pew Research Center's new survey shows the average digital lives of American children. While TV, smartphones, and streaming services were already deeply ingrained in our children's lives, the remarkable increase in AI usage now is noteworthy.

The specific figures make it more tangible:

• 4 out of 10 parents with children under 10 reported that their child uses voice assistant services like Alexa or Siri. 🗣️
• About 10% of parents with children aged 5 to 12 stated that their child has used AI tools such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini.

These numbers show that our children are interacting with AI technology much earlier and in more diverse ways than we might have imagined.

AI Usage in Academics, Is It Positive?

AI usage among American teenagers is even more prominent. A staggering 26% of American teenagers admitted to having used ChatGPT for school assignments. 📚

While there are positive aspects, such as AI tools potentially helping to improve creativity and problem-solving skills in learning, experts are voicing concerns about excessive reliance.

A recent study by Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University suggests that over-reliance on AI can degrade our cognitive thinking abilities. This implies a potential negative impact on the development of children's critical thinking skills. 🤔

What Should We Be Cautious About?

Experts identify maintaining healthy screen time and safety in interactions with AI chatbots as the biggest concerns for children.

• Privacy: Children may inadvertently disclose sensitive personal information to AI chatbots. 🤫
• Misinformation: Information generated by AI may not always be accurate or up-to-date. There is a risk that children may accept incorrect information as fact.
• Emotional Impact: More research is needed on how interactions with AI will affect children's social and emotional development. 😥
• Over-reliance: The possibility of children becoming solely reliant on AI without trying to think for themselves or solve problems cannot be ruled out.

Digital Guidelines for Our Children

Amidst these concerns, what can parents do? It would be beneficial to consider together some ways to help children use AI technology safely and beneficially.

1. Honest Conversations: Have open discussions with your children about AI, and spend time learning together about where they get information, what AI can and cannot do.
2. Explore Together: It's good to sit with your child while they use AI tools, and help them with any questions or difficulties they might have.
3. Set Screen Time Limits: Establish appropriate screen time rules for your children's age, and manage AI usage time together.
4. Educate Critical Thinking: Encourage them to compare information from various sources and practice making their own judgments, rather than unconditionally trusting the information provided by AI.
5. Rules and Boundaries: It is important to set and guide clear rules for AI usage, such as prohibiting personal information sharing and issuing warnings about inappropriate content.

The advancement of technology cannot be stopped, but how we wisely utilize that technology is in our hands. I hope we can continue to pay attention to this important topic and gather wisdom together so that our children can grow up healthily with AI. 😊

If you have any specific concerns or experiences related to your child's AI usage, please share them in the comments! Let's learn and grow together. 🙏