I — along with many parents — have wondered if artificial intelligence (AI) is beneficial for my
child or if it’s making him too dependent on technology. AI has been around for many years and
we live in a digital age where there’s a certain amount of reliance on it in our homes, our
schools and our workplaces.
AI tools like ChatGPT are popular in educational settings, so considering whether it’s helping or
harming kids is essential.
The Benefits of Educational AI
The development of AI systems is improving. Even the government has accepted that it must
embrace these tools to stay relevant in our ever-evolving digital age. While AI was once used
for more simple tasks like language translation, machine learning algorithms are now
transforming sectors like medicine and manufacturing. Here are some of the biggest benefits of
specifically using AI in schools:
1. Personalized Learning
AI offers our children the opportunity to receive immediate feedback, which they cannot get at
any hour in traditional classrooms. AI-enhanced learning platforms like Duolingo support your
child’s learning process at their own pace. If they don’t understand a category or topic, the
assistant helps them by repeating the section or giving them extra practice options.
2. Supports Various Learning Needs
Assistive technologies help children who have varying functional needs. Globally, about 19
million children under 14 have visual impairment. If your child needs a little extra attention in
using their fine motor skills or is visually impaired, assistive technology has proven useful in
helping their vision, hearing and overall daily living.
The Challenges of AI in Education
AI in education naturally raises concerns for parents. There are 46% of children who use AI
tools for homework. ChatGPT, Dall-E 2 and Bing Chat are the most common. Homework should
provide children with learning opportunities, so the overuse of AI in this area could actually hurt
the goals of education. Here are the main challenges of AI in schools:
1. Overdependency
As dads, we want the best education for our children, which is why we encourage personalized
learning, but there are concerns about dependency on these tools. If your child is using AI for
every project or to complete simple tasks like solving a math problem, then there might be a
dependency issue.
While I am pro-saving time, children may lose the ability to use simple research tools like a
dictionary or an encyclopedia because they are used to asking an AI tool for the answer. These
hardcopy tools might seem outdated to some, but they’re what got earlier generations through
school and where they are today.
2. Misinformation
Children who are overly dependent on AI tools tend to use ChatGPT for groundwork in research
or assignments, taking all of the information it provides at face value. If your child asks ChatGPT
to write an essay on a scientist, the AI tool pulls from all sources, including Wikipedia. Wikipedia
is a free online encyclopedia that can be edited by anyone, so it could include inaccurate
information.
In this scenario, an AI tool that should have helped our children learn instead gives them
inaccurate information, which their brains have now absorbed as fact. We should let kids use AI
tools as a starting point for tasks and assignments but then encourage them to look at various
credible sources. Comparing their own sources to the AI’s information and finding discrepancies
can help train your kid’s brain to think for itself.
Is AI Beneficial in the Long Run?
Responsible AI use is all about the user, their intentions and their ability to see through the
convenience of having this technology at their fingertips. These tools will develop as time
progresses and our children need to understand how to use them to make an impact in the
world. When these tools are used responsibly, our children will not be dependent on them to
fully function
Jack Shaw is the senior lifestyle writer at Modded and a single father with a special interest in navigating the ins and outs of being a parent. As fathers, the work we put in isn’t always recognized, but it’s absolutely essential to the health and well-being of our children. You can find more of Jack’s work in publications like Tiny Buddha, Daddy’s Digest, Parent.com and more. Contact him via LinkedIn.
