My (almost) two-year-old daughter loves to listen to Elmo songs. Thanks to AI, she can say “Hey Google, play Elmo” in any room in the house and her favorite jams will fill the speakers, so long as Google can “speak toddler” that day.
While this is cute and convenient for her, it’s also created a bit of unrealistic expectations. Now she yells “Hey Google, play Elmo!” at the grocery store, friends’ houses, in the middle of church, and even in outside spaces like the park. When Google doesn’t respond, she’s heartbroken.
My six-year-old son loves to ask AI questions throughout the day. “What sound does a howler monkey make?”, “Is it okay for dogs to eat strawberries?”, “How long would it take to dig to the other side of the Earth?” He gets instant answers to feed his curiosity.
While I enjoy the convenience of AI, I can’t help but wonder how it’s shaping the realities of my family and families across the globe.
How will my children’s lives continue to evolve with the growth of AI and how are other families experiencing this phenomenon?
A recent Pew Research survey found that 19% of U.S. teenagers have used AI to assist with their homework, with 39% deeming it acceptable for solving math problems.
While AI can be a valuable educational tool, it’s essential to ensure it complements learning rather than take over critical thinking.
Dr. Ying Xu, an assistant professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, emphasizes that AI designed with learning principles in mind can benefit children’s growth. However, she cautions that AI should be used to build children’s learning, not replace it.
AI isn’t just influencing children; it’s also reshaping parenting.
Some parents are proactively teaching their children to use AI tools responsibly, aiming to prepare them for a future where AI is expected to be even more present. However, the reliance on AI for tasks such as health advice has raised eyebrows. A study from the University of Kansas Life Span Institute revealed that some parents trust AI tools like ChatGPT more than healthcare professionals for health information. These parents also rated AI-generated text as credible, moral, and trustworthy, highlighting the need for discernment in AI usage.
Moreover, experts such as MIT’s Sherry Turkle, warn about the erosion of empathy due to AI. In her book Alone Together, Turkle suggests that over-reliance on technology in general can hinder our ability to empathize with others. She argues that the digital world often strips away nonverbal cues and subtle nuances in communication, making it harder to understand and connect with others on a deeper level.
As AI continues to integrate into our daily lives, it’s important for families to approach it with a balanced perspective.
Embracing the conveniences and educational benefits of AI can be helpful, but not at the expense of human interaction and critical thinking.
In this evolving landscape, perhaps the best approach is to treat AI as a helpful tool rather than an additional family member. After all, while AI can set reminders, play our favorite songs and answer questions, it can’t replace the connection formed through time spent having conversations and playing together.
Lauren Hall is the President and CEO of First Things First. Contact her at [email protected].