Youth Voice – Growing up with AI

The term ‘artificial intelligence’ has been part of the dictionary for more than 70 years, but it was in 2020 when the word began to seep into almost every household on the planet. I’m sure when you read the word AI, your mind conjures up images of ChatGPT, and probably even public figures like Elon Musk or Sam Altman. But what many people don’t realise is that tech billionaires aren’t the only ones who are on the frontlines of this technology.

One perk of being chronically online is that any new innovation gets pushed out to young people first. They learn what it does and how to use it before the rest of the general public. With AI, this is truer than ever, as youth are growing up with this technology in every aspect of their lives. AI literacy is in their school curriculum, websites they visit nowadays have dedicated chatbots, and most of their laptops come with a pre-installed AI assistant. It’s no wonder young people have adapted so quickly to artificial intelligence; they’re surrounded by it every day.

From what I’ve seen, this has led to youth becoming increasingly intimate with their chatbots. Whether it’s young people sharing pictures of their bodies with AI for gym advice or exploring new identities and beliefs with an AI that won’t judge them, the technology has become more than just a tool that writes your essays. Chatbots like ChatGPT now serve as a teacher, doctor, librarian, psychologist, and personal assistant all in one.

But artificial intelligence isn’t always a teen’s best friend. As the technology continues to improve, students must be careful before they choose a career path that may not survive the AI takeover. Deepfakes are also becoming a growing problem. It seems almost every day I come across several AI-generated videos. And, while I know the dancing kitten on my feed isn’t real, new technology will only get better at creating believable fake content.

It seems almost inevitable that AI will be an integral part of the future, and for many young people, that future has already arrived. I’m not sure what AI will look like in 10 or even five years’ time, but I think it’s important to understand the impact this technology is having right now. A good place to start is to be curious instead of fearful. Ask the young people in your life how they’re using AI, try using it yourself, and be hopeful that our understanding of this technology will bring about a healthy future with AI.