WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has three general categories: Reactive (mobile phone FaceID or voice assistants), Predictive (algorithms that create preferred music or video lists), or Generative (creating new text, images, and content). AI can understand language and patterns, carrying out complex tasks.
AI is a rapidly evolving technology, already a part of our everyday lives.
HOW CAN CHILDREN USE AI RESPONSIBLY?
While AI is powerful, it’s not infallible and can make mistakes. Show children how AI works and encourage responsible use. Remember, AI isn’t all-knowing, but responsible handling can benefit kids in remarkable ways. Using AI yourself is an important first step. Have AI create or analyze text, generate questions, create new media, or even create learning activities.
GenAI has rapidly been integrated into our daily lives. Tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity are used in the workplace, at home, and, most importantly, by our children daily. GenAI can create content and explain topics, acting as a digital assistant. GenAI is already described as transformative, effective, easy to use, and personalized. Unfortunately, this promise minimizes the difficulty and complexity of adopting new technologies to support children's learning, which often fail to deliver on their promises.
WHY ALL THE AI FUSS?
New learning tools based on AI are being offered, but many are still under development. Some companies are making promises that are too good to be true. We know that the best learning experiences combine new technology with the experience of good parents and teachers. AI is not a magic solution nor a quick fix for complex problems in helping our children to learn. The best educational technology should help parents and teachers, not replace them.
HOW DOES AI LEARN?
Much like how a person becomes skilled at playing an instrument or excels in a game, it is all about practice. AI learns from information, also known as data, analyzing and studying human and machine-generated data and languages.