Raising Kids in the Age of AI

Just a few short years ago, AI went from being a niche, techy subtopic to practically inescapable in our daily lives. Upon OpenAI’s 2022 launch—and all of the subsequently launched AI models—AI-generated content flooded nearly every corner of the internet. You can’t go anywhere online without seeing it, whether it’s summarizing your texts or being manipulated to trick your boomer aunt into buying yet another thing online that shows up looking completely different, if at all. The New Yorker just recently reported that by the fall of 2024, nearly 50% of English-language articles published on the internet were written by a machine.

From 2013 to 2024, tech companies have invested $1.6 trillion into developing the technology further, swelling the industry into a bubble that is begging to be popped. Goldman Sachs reported that AI is causing a net loss of 16,000 U.S. jobs every month.

AI has disproportionately affected entry-level jobs, causing Gen Z to miss out on their earliest opportunities to build their career skills. AI may be able to “replace,” but today’s newest adults won’t as easily receive core training, causing them to be underemployed.

As the world becomes more AI-filled, let’s take the steps today to ensure your kids know how to survive in the technology-fueled future.

How AI Affects Children

The Center for Universal Education at Brookings conducted a year-long risk assessment to analyze AI’s effect on students.

While teachers found AI useful in some cases, like learning a second language or making learning more accessible for students with disabilities, it was actually most useful for teachers themselves. AI use helped teachers save an average of six hours per week on more mundane tasks like sending emails or writing lesson plans. That being said, the same study found that the developmental risks of children using AI far outweigh the rewards.

Teachers noticed that students who used AI were more likely to develop a “doom loop” of AI dependency. The more students offloaded learning onto AI, the more likely they were to show signs of cognitive decline more similar to that of an aging brain. Generative AI use caused declines in overall content knowledge, critical thinking skills, and creativity.

A survey conducted by the Center for Democracy and Technology reported that 42% of students surveyed either know someone or have used AI for companionship themselves, with a concerning 1 in 5 high school students reporting that they or someone they know has had a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot. The Brookings study found that as children lean into AI’s companionship, they develop social-emotional skills through interactions designed to completely agree with them and reinforce their own beliefs, rather than gaining perspective from their peers. These interactions can develop serious echo chambers and stunt emotional growth.

How To Set Kids Up For Success In A World of AI

Despite the early studies showing the detriment of AI on children, it doesn’t seem like it’s going anywhere soon. As we raise our children, it is vital to teach them how to survive in a world where AI becomes more and more integrated into every part of their lives.

Teach and Reinforce Media Literacy

Millennials and early Gen Zers largely grew up alongside modern technology as it evolved. They learned the internet gradually, from desktop computers and early social media to smartphones and streaming platforms. Today’s children are often immersed in highly personalized algorithms, AI-generated content, and endless information from a very young age.

Because of this, media literacy has become one of the most important life skills parents can teach.

Young Children

For younger children, the focus should be less on technology itself and more on the quality and quantity of what they consume. Parents can help by:

• Prioritizing educational, age-appropriate content
• Watching videos or playing games together when possible
• Encouraging offline play, creativity, and social interaction
• Setting clear screen time boundaries
• Avoiding overstimulation from constant short-form content

Elementary and Middle School Children

As children get older, technology often becomes a larger part of their social lives. Instead of only policing screen time, parents can focus on understanding why certain apps, creators, or online communities matter to their children. This age group benefits from:

• Device-free meals and family time
• Consistent time limits for entertainment apps
• Conversations about online safety and digital footprints
• Guidance on recognizing misinformation and clickbait
• Discussions about how algorithms influence what they see online

High School Children

High school students are exposed to a constant stream of news, opinions, influencers, and AI-generated content. Teaching teens to critically evaluate information is essential. Consider:

• Watching news coverage together
• Talking through different perspectives on current events
• Discussing how headlines are designed to trigger emotional reactions
• Identifying bias, misinformation, or manipulated content
• Exploring how AI-generated images, videos, and articles can be misleading

Encourage the “Old-Fashioned” Way Of Learning

We grew up browsing the library for information for research papers—understanding the credibility of sources, gathering data to make your argument, and drafting a paper all on your own. Now, kids can go straight to ChatGPT and ask it to generate a research paper for them. All of the skills learned from doing things the “old-fashioned” way are now more important than ever as AI spits out incorrect information or answers that don’t tell the full story.

AI tools can answer questions instantly, summarize books, and even write essays. While these tools can be useful, children still need foundational skills that help them think independently and solve problems on their own.

Children should learn how to:

• Read books and long-form articles
• Gather information from multiple sources
• Take notes and organize ideas
• Compare differing viewpoints
• Build conclusions through their own reasoning

Not all information online is trustworthy, and AI-generated responses can sometimes sound convincing while being inaccurate. Teach children to ask questions like:

• Who created this information?
• Is the source reputable?
• Is the information current?
• Can this claim be verified elsewhere?
• Is this opinion presented as fact?

Nurture Human-Centric Skills

As AI becomes more capable of automating technical tasks, many of the skills that are becoming more valuable are the ones that are uniquely human. Helping children strengthen these abilities early can prepare them for stronger relationships, better communication, and long-term adaptability in both their personal and professional lives.

• Emotional Intelligence: Teach children how to identify, express, and regulate their emotions in healthy ways. Emotional intelligence can help kids navigate friendships, future workplaces, and stressful situations more effectively.
• Empathy: Encouraging children to understand and care about other people’s feelings can strengthen their relationships and communication skills. Empathy also helps children become more thoughtful collaborators and leaders.
• Moral Reasoning: Technology cannot replace human ethics and values. Teaching children to think about fairness, responsibility, honesty, and consequences can help them make better decisions as AI becomes more integrated into society.
• Creativity: AI can generate content quickly, but human creativity is still rooted in personal experiences, emotions, and imagination. Encourage children to explore art, music, storytelling, design, and creative problem-solving.
• Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills remain essential in nearly every career path. Helping children learn how to clearly express ideas and actively listen to others can set them apart in an increasingly digital world.
• Adaptability: The future job market and technology landscape will likely continue changing rapidly. Children who learn how to adapt, stay curious, and embrace lifelong learning may be better equipped to handle uncertainty and new opportunities.
• Collaboration: Many future careers will still depend on teamwork and human interaction. Teaching children how to cooperate, resolve conflict, and work effectively with others can benefit them throughout life.

Explore AI-Proof Career Paths

AI may automate some tasks and reshape certain industries, but many careers will still rely heavily on human interaction, judgment, and hands-on expertise.

• Skilled Trades: Electricians, plumbers, mechanics, HVAC technicians, and other skilled professionals perform complex physical work that cannot easily be automated. Many of these careers are also in high demand.
• Healthcare: Doctors, nurses, therapists, physical therapists, and caregivers all require empathy, communication, and human trust. AI may assist these professions, but human care remains essential.
• Law, Advocacy, and Human Services: While AI may assist with research and documentation, careers involving negotiation, advocacy, strategy, and human judgment will still require people.
• Technology and AI Careers: Ironically, understanding AI may also open doors for future careers. Children interested in technology might explore coding, robotics, cybersecurity, or data science.

Help Them Prepare For an Unpredictable Financial Future

AI is already shaping industries, changing career paths, and creating economic uncertainty. As the cost of education and living continues to rise, many parents are thinking more seriously about how to financially prepare their children for adulthood. Starting early can help relieve some of the financial pressure children may face later in life while also giving them more flexibility as they grow.

Whether a child plans to attend a four-year university, trade school, certification program, or another form of continuing education, the cost of learning beyond high school continues to increase. Building savings early can help provide more options and reduce future student debt burdens. A 529 plan is one option many families use to save for education-related expenses.

Not every child will follow a traditional career or education path, especially as technology continues to change the workforce. Some children may eventually pursue entrepreneurship, creative careers, freelance work, or other nontraditional opportunities.

Flexible savings and investment options can help parents prepare for a wider range of future needs outside of strictly education-related expenses. UGMA accounts help parents or family members to invest money on behalf of a child that can later be used more broadly in adulthood.

Artificial intelligence is already changing childhood, education, and the future workforce in ways we are only beginning to understand. At the same time, AI is reshaping industries at a rapid pace, creating uncertainty around future careers, financial stability, and what adulthood may look like for today’s children.

While parents cannot completely shield children from these changes, they can help prepare them for the realities of an AI-driven world. Teaching children how to think critically, communicate effectively, build meaningful relationships, use technology responsibly, and develop financial resilience can help them stay grounded in skills that technology cannot easily replace.

Photo by UK Black Tech on Unsplash