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Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the development of computer systems or machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. These tasks can include,

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Learning from data

Understanding natural language

Recognizing images or patterns

Making decisions

Solving problems

Interacting with humans

Abstract Random Shapes
Mindfulness
Abstract Sphere

CAVEAT: This chapter is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to artificial intelligence (AI). Rather, its purpose is to equip parents and educators with a general understanding of AI’s transformative potential and the challenges that come with it. We aim to help parents and educators initiate meaningful conversations with their children or students about both the known and unknown positive and negative impacts of AI. These discussions need to start taking place—both at home and in schools.

 

Did you know that in a 2023 survey commissioned by the Family Online Safety Institute in the United States, 67% of American teenagers reported using or experimenting with AI? UNICEF found that in the UK, 80% of teens aged 13–17 were using “generative” AI tools, and 40% of children aged 7–12 were also engaging with them.🔗 UNICEF Source

 

The statistic regarding 7–12-year-olds is particularly interesting given that most generative AI platforms require users to be at least 13. As with many technological innovations, AI was originally created with adults in mind—not youth.

 

How Youth Are Using Generative AI

 

In our presentations, we’ve learned that youth are engaging with generative AI in three main ways:

 

  • As a research tool to gather information

 

  • As a digital companion, such as Snapchat’s My AI

 

  • As a creative tool using programs like DALL-E to generate pictures

 

 

Types of Artificial Intelligence

 

There are two general categories of AI that parents and educators should understand:

 

1. Discriminative (Predictive) AI – The Older Form

 

Discriminative AI analyzes patterns to make predictions. Examples include:

 

  • Siri or Alexa voice assistants

 

  • GPS navigation systems

 

  • Language translation tools

 

  • Fraud detection algorithms

 

  • Medical diagnostic systems

 

While very accurate, this form of AI lacks creativity—it can't generate new content.

 

2. Generative AI – The New Frontier

 

Generative AI (also known as Large Language Model AI) creates novel content from scratch, such as text, images, music, or even full video sequences. It doesn’t rely on templates but predicts new outcomes based on data patterns.

 

Currently, there are three main forms of Generative AI:

 

  • Large Language Models (LLMs) – e.g., ChatGPT, designed to understand and generate human-like text.

 

  • Image Generators – e.g., DALL-E, used to generate visuals from text prompts.

 

  • Recommendation Systems – e.g., those used by Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon to predict and influence consumer behavior.

 

 

Examples in Action

 

  • Text Prompt (ChatGPT):

     

    “Write a high school-level essay on The Catcher in the Rye as if written by a student.”

     

    → Produces a polished essay within seconds.

 

  • Image Prompt (DALL-E):

     

    “Create an image of a student using ChatGPT to write an essay on The Catcher in the Rye.”

     

    → Produces a matching visual in seconds.

 

Other tools include:

 

  • Image-to-Image: Canvas

 

  • Text-to-Image: Midjourney, Stable Diffusion

 

  • Text-to-Audio: MusicLM

 

  • Video-to-Video: Project Morpheus

 

  • Text-to-Video: Make-A-Video

 

  • Text-to-Code: GitHub Copilot, Bard, Bing’s AI

 

  • And many more...

 

 

Why Generative AI Has Advanced So Rapidly

 

Its secret? It learns faster than we do.

 

  • SAT Test: ChatGPT scored 94% (Human average: ~50%)

 

  • Bar Exam: ChatGPT scored in the 90th percentile

 

  • IQ Test (Linguistic): Scored 152 (Genius level) And it hit 1 million users faster than any tech in history:

 

  • Netflix – 3.5 years

 

  • Facebook – 10 months

 

  • Instagram – 2.5 months

 

  • ChatGPT – 5 days

 

 

Human Intelligence vs AI Machine Intelligence

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Human Intelligence includes:

 

  • Problem-solving (Intelligence)

 

  • Moral reasoning (Morals)

 

  • Emotional depth (Consciousness)

 

  • Evolutionary instincts (Survival)

 

AI lacks:

 

  • Morals

 

  • Consciousness

 

  • Instincts

 

Just like Star Trek’s Commander Data—it may act human, but it doesn’t feel human.

 

 

Risks, Harms, and Ethical Challenges

 

Because AI lacks moral understanding, it can:

 

  • Perpetuate biases

 

  • Spread misinformation

 

  • Risk privacy

 

  • Facilitate crime

 

🔗 AI Used in Crime – The White Hatter🔗 Deepfake Financial Scam – Global News

 

There have already been troubling incidents:

 

  • Offensive outputs (racist, sexist, homophobic)

 

 

  • Political and public health misinformation

     

    🔗 CTV Article

 

 

Privacy Concerns

 

  • Platforms like Snapchat’s MyAI raise questions about data storage and monetization.

 

 

  • Datasets often scraped content without creator consent, raising copyright and IP issues.

     

    🔗 Reuters Lawsuit Article

 

 

 

Additional Concerns

 

Dr. Sameer Hinduja wrote an important three-part series on AI harms:

 

Part 1🔗 

 

Part 2🔗 

 

AI Relationship Bots

 

Canadian Research

 

KPMG Canada Survey Findings:

 

  • 20% of Canadians use GenAI for work/school tasks

 

  • 23% entered employer info into AI prompts

 

  • 10% shared financial data

 

  • Only 49% always verify accuracy of AI outputs

 

  • 75% worry about AI misinformation—but 70% keep using it

 

🔗 KPMG Survey Summary

 

So, What Do We Think?

 

Generative AI can:

 

  • Enhance learning and accessibility

 

  • Revolutionize creative and business processes

 

  • Save time and expand capability

 

But it also:

 

  • Raises ethical dilemmas

 

  • Risks amplifying societal biases

 

 

Educators are concerned that overreliance on AI may erode basic academic skills such as writing, spelling, and fact-checking.

 

We must remain vigilant and thoughtful. As futurist Ray Kurzweil said:

 

“An invention has to make sense in the world in which it is finished, not the world in which it is started.”

 

 

Final Thoughts for Parents

 

AI is a tool. How it’s used depends on who’s using it:

 

  • Creative people will become more creative

 

  • Productive people will be more productive

 

  • Lazy people may become lazier

 

  • Some will misuse it intentionally

 

We’re especially concerned about how social media platforms are racing to embed AI features, often testing on youth in real time. That’s why we advocate:

 

  • Regulation: Youth should not be guinea pigs for corporate gain.

     

  • Oversight: Vendors must be accountable for AI’s potential harms.

 

Teaching Points for Parents

 

  • Learn Together: Use AI tools as a family activity.

 

  • Embrace Curiosity: Ask questions and explore its possibilities.

 

  • Teach AI Literacy: Help your kids understand its powers and its limits.

 

 

For Educators

 

Use this chapter to spark thought experiments and critical discussions.Recommended resources:

 

  • Blog: AI for Educators by Leon Furze

 

 

 

 

 

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Further Reading

 

 

 

 

 

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