Introduction & Treasures from the Past
This weekend, as I rummaged through the attic, I stumbled upon a treasure – a scrapbook from my youth, dating back to 1981. It was a gift for my Bat Mitzvah, a keepsake that has miraculously survived over forty years. On the cover are the words, "Moments of Unbounded Excitement," which couldn't be more fitting for how I've tried to live my life. Flipping the pages was not just a journey through time, but a bridge connecting my teenage aspirations to the digital dilemmas of today.
Amidst old report cards, presidential fitness scores, and handmade party invites, I found a little slice of my youth I was certain didn't exist anymore. It was a 1982 newspaper clipping from an Anti-Nuclear Arms Rally at the old Memorial Stadium in Minneapolis, where a 9th-grade me stood in front of a microphone, passionately advocating for peace.
The article captured my words, expressing concern over the nuclear arms race's impact on educational funding. Revisiting this moment made me wonder – did I really understand the depth of what I was saying back then? Probably not, but it reminded me there's always been this fire inside me to make a positive change in the world.
The Digital Age and Parenting
This youthful passion now channels into my current crusade: democratizing the exploration and understanding of generative AI tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT. Often, I hear concerns labeling ChatGPT as merely a 'cheating tool,' accompanied by whispers of shame from those who've used it for legitimate tasks. It's high time we flipped that script. We need to create a culture where using AI is not only accepted but also celebrated for its collaborative human-AI potential.
As parents and grandparents, our involvement with these tools can set a tone of curiosity and co-learning, encouraging younger generations to explore responsibly alongside us. And just as we've been here before, with debates on new technologies, our approach needs to be thoughtful and informed.
Reflecting on the 2010s, we were at a similar crossroads, deliberating over the right time for our children to own cell phones or join social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. I remember pondering in my blog, "Mom and Dad Debate if a 12-year-old should have a cell phone," and the complexities around introducing Instagram, which initially felt more like an art tool than a social network.
These experiences with social media offer invaluable lessons as we navigate the AI landscape. Experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have provided guidelines for social media, emphasizing age-appropriate exposure, privacy, and balancing digital with real-life interactions. These principles are strikingly relevant as we venture into the world of AI.
Drawing Parallels with AI & Expert Opinions and Future Directions
Setting boundaries, maintaining open dialogue, and learning alongside our children are key strategies that apply to AI as well. Similar to how we discuss responsible social media use, we must also guide our children in using AI in positive, educational, and safe ways.
While experts suggest caution with social media for children under 13, this framework could inform our approach to AI. Parents and educators can start by supervising AI interactions, discussing ethical use, and setting basic rules, even as formal guidelines are still in development.
Closing Thoughts around Digital Dilemmas:
Guiding our children through the ever-evolving digital landscape, whether it be social media or AI, is a narrative of continuous learning and adaptation. I've decided to continue filling the pages of my scrapbook, not only with memories but also with reflections on these challenges and triumphs.
Where and how do we want our young people to learn about the responsible use of these tools and how to decide if outputs are factual or unbiased? I thought about this while hanging out with my 13-year-old little sister from the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. I logged in and showed her ChatGPT for the first time. My attempts to engage her fell short but what happened next was even more interesting. She called up YouTube to show me one of her favorite vloggers and lo behold Jessii Vee of "Vee Vlogs" actually had done a segment on ChatGPT. Consider this, Jessii has a TikTok following of more than 5 million and 776,000 on YouTube.
I would love your thoughts. I'm not writing this because I have answers. My goal is to fuel conversations.
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