Children and AI: Safe Digital Future Children and AI: A Digital Expert Perspective on a Safe Digital Future Why Artificial Intelligence Is More Than Just a Toy — and How We Can Teach Our Children to Use It Wisely Welcome to Our New Reality: Childhood Under the Wing of AI If someone had told me a decade ago that my children would casually chat with smart speakers, request bedtime stories from them, or create fantastical images using algorithms, I would have laughed it off as pure science fiction. But here we are. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a concept of the future—it’s our present. It has quietly, almost imperceptibly, but very confidently entered our children’s lives. This isn’t just the “internet” of our youth. It’s something more: YouTube and TikTok curating content specifically for them, voice assistants becoming conversational partners, educational apps adapting to their learning pace. Our children are the first generation not merely using technology but growing up alongside AI. They will build careers, learn, form friendships, and play in a world where AI is woven into the very fabric of reality. Ignoring it means turning a blind eye to immense opportunities. Blind trust is dangerous. But there’s no need to panic! The key lies with us—parents and educators. We can teach our children to use this powerful tool consciously and safely. And I want to be your guide in this—not only as a digital expert and author of educational programs but also as a mother walking this path alongside you. Welcome to the series “Children and AI”! Remember the Essentials: AI Is Not Human It doesn’t understand. It doesn’t feel. It doesn’t empathize. It’s a tool. Powerful, intelligent, but just a tool. ❓ Why Should We Talk to Our Children About AI Today? Because our children are already living in this world. They interact with algorithms intuitively—often without realizing it. How we prepare them now will determine whether they can: Critically evaluate information from AI (rather than blindly trust it), Protect their privacy and data, Use AI effectively for learning and creativity, Clearly distinguish between human interaction and algorithmic responses. 🧠 AI Is Already Here: Where Do Our Children Encounter It? YouTube, TikTok, Shorts feeds: Captivating algorithms suggest “just one more video,” creating a cozy (and sometimes concerning) content bubble that’s hard to escape. Voice assistants (Alexa, Siri, Google): Children genuinely converse with them, share their questions and stories—sometimes perceiving the soulless code almost as a friend. Educational apps: AI adjusts difficulty levels—great for learning but requires our attention to content. Games with “smart” characters: Create the illusion of live interaction, which can sometimes replace real-life engagement. Smartphone filters and cameras: Algorithms instantly “enhance” appearance, creating ideal (and often unattainable) images that subtly impact fragile self-esteem.   👶 How to Explain AI to a Child? Simple Words for a Complex Topic Imagine AI as a super-capable but very peculiar student: It’s an enormous know-it-all—has seen and remembered mountains of texts, pictures, videos. It guesses—tries to predict what you want to see or hear based on what it has “learned.” But it doesn’t truly understand meaning. It lacks feelings, thoughts, or our experiences.   📌 The most important thing to convey: AI analyzes data but doesn’t understand it like a human. It makes predictions, not conscious decisions. It can make mistakes—and sometimes very convincingly present fiction (“hallucinations”) as fact.   💬 Questions to ask your child: “Do you think AI always tells the truth?” “If it makes a mistake, how would you recognize it?” “Why do you think it suggested that particular video or image to you?” 🛑 Shadows Behind the Light: Risks That Must Be Addressed Invisible data collection: Children often don’t realize how much personal information (what they watch, search for, say) services collect. This data is a goldmine for advertisers and a potential target for malicious actors. Attention traps: AI is designed to keep us on platforms. “One more video,” “one more level”—an endless stream that easily turns into an addiction, stealing time from sleep, studies, and outdoor play. Illusion of friendship: Especially young children may genuinely “bond” with a voice assistant or game character. But it’s an illusion. AI lacks empathy and can’t provide real support. Such “relationships” can hinder the development of essential social skills. Content traps: Even the best filters aren’t perfect. AI might recommend or generate inappropriate content: from violence and aggression to outright falsehoods or “adult” material. Open chats without boundaries: Some chatbots, lacking strict limitations, can answer any child’s question—even the most traumatic or age-inappropriate ones. 📎 That’s why age restrictions, parental controls, and—most importantly—our joint presence and open dialogue are critically important. The Risks Are Clear. What Exactly Can I Do? Here’s what leading experts and organizations advise: OpenAI (ChatGPT): “13+ isn’t just a number. Use chatbots together with younger children. Personal data is off-limits. All AI responses are grounds for healthy skepticism and verification.” UNICEF: “Parents, you are your children’s primary digital guides! Protecting children’s rights online is as important as offline.” Common Sense Media: “Don’t rely solely on filters—foster media literacy! Discuss with your child why AI said what it did. Regularly ‘upgrade’ security settings—make it a habit.” UNESCO: “When integrating AI into education, don’t forget to teach children to think critically and understand the ethical aspects of technology.” Your Action Plan: Start Today, Step by Step  Family AI Safety Checklist: ✔️ Become co-explorers: Use AI together! Create stories with ChatGPT, seek answers to children’s “why” questions, generate images. “Wow, look what came out! Why do you think AI drew it that way?” It’s the best way to learn, monitor, and discuss. ✔️ Activate the parental radar: YouTube Kids, Google Family Link, TikTok restrictions—these aren’t total control but reasonable safety boundaries. Set them up with your child, explaining “why.” ✔️ Choose platforms wisely: Khan Academy Kids, Scratch, Be Internet Awesome—prefer trusted educational resources designed specifically for children. ✔️Always talk: Make it a habit to ask, “What interesting thing did you learn with AI today? What surprised you? What seemed