Talking to your children about AI safety

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — As the school year continues, some Borderland students will be using artificial intelligence. In this age of AI, children must be safe and understand the risks involved.

According to a new report by Common Sense Media, children aren’t just using AI for their homework. For many, it has become their confidant.

The report, titled "AI Use by Tweens and Teens," examined how this generation’s relationship with AI evolved. It surveyed more than 1,000 students across the nation. It found that nearly half of kids never had a conversation with their parents about AI safety.

Michael Nelson, the director of operations at Tech Frontier, said that while AI is a valuable tool, more conversations about it need to happen between parents and their children.

He said AI has become popular in the school setting among many students. He said some students use AI for homework answers, which isn't helping them learn.

“If you're going to use an AI app, let's work on it together. Let's see how we input that information and see what it spits out. Let's analyze that critically, like, what comes out, and then take that and then finish your homework,” Nelson said.

Chatbots are designed to sound like humans. Some argued it can be an abstract concept for many young children. Experts said parents should establish their own guidelines for their children to follow.  

Parents can say something similar to: “Hey, if we're sitting down as a family, no screens, this is our time together. This is our time to talk and hear about our days and plan our future.”

Parents can also ask their children:

To read the full report, click here.