Informed computer phenomena, which we call artificial intelligence, is really important for what’s coming up in the world. Moms, dads, and teachers think it’s a great idea for teens to get to know about this AI thing now; they’re focused on getting us into special classes, marvelous technology games, and shows that teach about artificial intelligence.
Based on what Google Trends shows, people searching for “AI for children” went significantly up, like more than three times higher in the past year. At the same time, a while back, a lot more people also started looking up “coding for children.” Since artificial intelligence, or AI, is going to change essentially every job out there, knowing how to code and understand computers is becoming extremely important if you want to do well in the future. A large amount of parents see this, and they want their children to have these advantages as well.
“We’ve seen a huge uptick in interest for teaching kids about AI,” said Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole, one of many educational businesses catering to this demand. “Parents want to ensure their kids are literate in technologies that will be commonplace by the time they enter college or the workplace. In recent years, “Coding for Kids” was all the rage, but today, “AI for Kids” is what parents and teachers want.”
AI Camps and Classes
Companies like Amazon Future Engineer and Elite Tech Academy launched afterschool clubs and workshops to expose kids in underserved communities to AI skills and careers. Khan Academy has its own AI tool for kids and shares its thoughts on the future of education.
Some education experts predict AI clubs will become as common as school robotics or even chess clubs. “AI is already creeping into many aspects of daily life,” said Michelle Connolly, founder of online education platform LearningMole. “Introducing children to core AI concepts like machine learning models and neural networks is quickly becoming as essential as teaching coding and maths. By making kids aware of what AI is and how it works, they will be better prepared to utilize these technologies in productive and ethical ways. Our new AI videos aim to demystify AI for young learners, just as computer science education has provided a foundation of computational thinking skills for today’s youth.”
AI Toys and Media
Toy companies have raced to bring AI and coding toys to market for kids as young as toddlers. Popular options combine traditional play with app connectivity, teaching coding basics and AI concepts through hands-on interactions.
- Osmo Genius Kit (ages 6-10): This kit includes a tablet, various physical game pieces, and an app that teaches kids coding, math, and problem-solving skills.
- Sphero Bolt (for 8 and older): You can steer this robot with your phone or tablet, and it can pick up new moves and ways of acting as time goes on.
- Lego Boost, made for years seven and older, lets students put together their own robots and cars. Afterward, they can make them do a variety of things by using basic coding.
- Cozmo (for 8 years and older): This informed robot knows how to identify people, listen to orders; and can crack jokes too.
- LittleBits Code Kit (ages 8+): This kit allows kids to build their own electronic projects, such as a talking bird or a light-up alarm clock.
Parent Perspectives
A lot of moms and dads think it’s wonderful to get their children into AI phenomena early on. In 2020, Pew Research Center did a survey and found out that like 72% of parents with children between newborns and 17 think AI’s going to be an integral factor in their children’ lives. Out of them, 62% are pretty psyched about what AI can do for their children, like teaching them amazing things and getting them ready for what’s ahead.
Another survey conducted by the National Retail Federation in 2021 found that 65% of parents are interested in buying AI-powered toys for their children. The most popular reasons for this interest were that AI toys can help children learn new skills (58%), be more creative (54%), and be more engaged (52%).
The numbers show that several parents are happy with their children getting to know AI content early on; they think AI can really help with learning and growing, and they’re for buying informed toys and online content that run on AI.
Sure, some parents also worry that letting their children use AI too soon might be bad news; they’re scared that AI could trick or take advantage of children, or maybe even cause them to end up feeling all alone because they’re not spending time with real people.
You must think about the good things and the bad things that could come from letting children experiment with AI early on before you choose if you want your child to get into that technology. In the end, it’s your call to make. You should decide what’s right for your child, depending on what they need and what they are into.
Questions Around Data and Bias
As the field expands rapidly, some also raise concerns about data privacy and bias in AI aimed at children.
Ai phenomena works a lot with data from people who use it. If an AI wants to get better at understanding what we’re saying or reading how we feel from our faces, it needs tons of speaking clips or pics of different expressions; this has made people say we must protect children’ data significantly better.
Researchers also caution that biases embedded in AI algorithms could be amplified through toys and media aimed at kids. For instance, an AI chatbot trained predominantly on white voices might not understand children of color. An emotion recognition tool relying on visual data alone could fail with autistic children.
The Path Ahead
As AI permeates our lives, introducing AI in age-appropriate ways could prepare children to navigate our increasingly tech-driven world. But more work is needed to embed ethics, provide equitable access, and balance screen time.
Caregivers, ethicists and companies building products are responsible for developing AI for kids that drive social progress. Kids also need knowledge and skills to think critically about how AI impacts society. With the right approach, the future looks bright for young people to lead the way in developing AI to enhance human potential.
