We’re all interacting with AI in daily life, even when we may not realize it. This includes our children. How?

• When using YouTube or video streaming services, AI suggests the next videos for us to watch based on algorithms and past behaviors.
• When you visit a website for assistance, you may interact with a ChatBot or digital assistant for assistance.
• Facial ID opens your smart phone.
• Social media utilizes AI to suggest posts and advertisements for you.

 

Here’s an excellent AI guide for parents from UNICEF: UNICEF-Global-Insight-AI guide for parents

“AI systems can be trained to make predictions and programmed to make decisions, sometimes without any human involvement. This is done through data analysis and pattern identification. Data is collected by our online activities, or by using sensors (e.g. cameras, thermometers, microphones, motion sensors, etc.) to observe the environment. The algorithms (or instructions) used by computers to analyse this data can be very complex, and therefore decisions made by AI systems are sometimes surprising, unexpected or unexplainable. This is not an acceptable outcome when decisions are being made about people.”

“Risks include:

“Bias: Bias occurs when an AI system produces results that are systemically prejudiced, due to assumptions made during the development process, prejudices in the training data or design errors. Such negative bias can limit opportunities for certain vulnerable groups, including children.’

“Safety: Safety risks may occur when AI systems are poorly designed or regulated, misused or hacked. This includes privacy violations and loss of control over autonomous systems – such as driverless cars. In these cases, children’s physical safety and data can be at risk.’

“Profiling and Deception: AI-driven recommendations for news stories, online community groups, friends and more are based on profiling – they feed people content based on their preferences, creating thought filter bubbles. AI can also be used to amplify disinformation and bias, endangering children’s ability to develop and to express themselves freely.’

“What you can do:

“Your children are affected by AI-enabled systems, either directly through their digital activities or indirectly through decisions AI systems make about them or you. The following suggestions are designed as a starting point to help you engage and educate yourself and your children on AI systems. See the UNICEF Voices of Youth website or these resources to learn more.’

• Learn the basics of AI systems and how these technologies can impact children both positively and negatively. Online courses such as Elements of AI offer useful information to help you think through what AI is and how it affects society.
• Think critically about the potential data and privacy impacts of AI systems used in your home, your child’s school, and children’s toys by considering how and why the collected data is used.
• Teach your children about the opportunities and risks of AI systems, including data ownership and the importance of not sharing more data than they want or need to.
• Ask your children’s school how they are using AI technologies and how they are choosing which applications to use.
• Find out which local organizations are advocating for the responsible use of AI and see how you can be involved.”

 

 

UNICEF also conducted a youth survey about AI. You can find that resource here – UNICEF_AI_AdolescentPerspectives

“What risks are posed by AI?

• Infringements on data privacy;
• Personal data leaks or hacking;
• Personal data misuse;
• Reinforcing racial and gender biases in AI;
• The risk of exposure to scams especially through accessing personal data;
• In the health sector, the risk of misdiagnosis can arise under the influence of incorrect information;
• AI could exacerbate rising unemployment;
• AI could make the world more unequal by benefitting those who are already wealthy;
• The risk of losing human connection between people; and
• The lack of clear boundaries and safeguards about AI use by adolescents.

Across all workshops, participants revealed varied understandings of the risks posed by AI. While a few demonstrated an awareness of risk, the majority showed either a naïve understanding or none at all.”

 

Here’s another resource from NPR – https://one.npr.org/?sharedMediaId=1176704126:1176738759

Another video with conversations featuring students learning about AI and explaining what they know:

 

 

This is an excellent article where experts highlight risks and what to do – https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/27/worried-about-your-kids-and-ai-experts-discuss-risks-and-share-tips.html

“…there are concerns that AI could be something of a double-edged sword, especially when it comes to kids.’

“Risks range from privacy and safety issues to psychological and behavioral effects, according to a report by UNICEF and the World Economic Forum.’

“Those can come from social media, for example. AI-based algorithms learn what content kids (or anyone, for that matter) search for and engage with, filling their feeds with it — even if it could be harmful to them or people around them. Though social media platforms have taken steps to mitigate the problem, they haven’t been able to eradicate it.’

“Kids may also be less careful about sharing their personal details online, making them more vulnerable to data breaches like the one that recently hit ChatGPT.”

 

Educate our children on AI! (Have more conversations!)

Read the articles, use the resources, and watch the videos above – with your children!

Check out the World Economic Forum AI for Children Toolkit – WEF_Artificial_Intelligence_for_Children. This toolkit has an abundance of risk mitigation to review.

 

Like other platforms such as social media, children should not share personal information or interact with people they do not know, face-to-face, in real life. Teaching children about basic technology safety and implementing them in AI environments can help keep digital interactions safer for children. 

Remember that we have these additional resources that are updated regularly –

• https://deangeliscenter.org/safety-for-kids-online-cheezo/
• https://deangeliscenter.org/safetyprepared-sextortion/

 

Never share personal information with anyone you don’t know face-to-face, in real life! Be clear that online friends are not face-to-face friends.

Lastly, have regular conversations about digital safety with your kids!

 

Our children are the first digital generation. Adults today did not grow up in the AI environment. Your regular conversations will help to keep them safe online!