Programmable machines would be capable of writing school essays for kids,while resting on the couch you might order a personalized movie with your favorite virtual actors,robots would be playing chess with you and guess what,even defeat you! Seems unreal? Well,most probably this is going to be the future. And who’s going to witness it all- Kids of today, adults of tomorrow. And undoubtedly,AI is going to have a significant impact on them in the near future.
Algorithms have the power to influence the lives of children. Alexa communicates with children,recording their voice data and influencing their speech and social development. They’re binge-watching videos on TikTok and YouTube that were recommended to them by Recommendation algorithms, and these videos are influencing their ideologies.Technology has given us various online tools, applications, and robots to assist us teach our children in the age of artificial intelligence. We can now modify curriculums and provide customised remote learning choices thanks to AI and robots. For children with unique needs,we can even give therapeutic solutions. Hence we can clearly expect AI to broaden its scope in the coming years, which will be impacting the lives of today’s kids and tomorrow’s youth.
AI and the future of education
Artificial intelligence is transforming a variety of industries, including education. In the future,this technology will transform the way we educate children.In fact,it is already taking place. As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual learning has taken off years ahead of what was anticipated. Virtual learning has been proven to help extend educational opportunities for a wide spectrum of students, and AI will aid even more in this sector. This does not mean that in-person classes are going away. It will,however,assist in bringing virtual learners into classrooms who are unable to attend in person.
Better Career Opportunities
The expectation that millions of jobs will be generated in the AI field over the next decade significantly increases the relevance of artificial intelligence for kids. Even now,AI is utilised in a variety of production and service fields, and the number of domains will continue to grow with each passing day, producing jobs in every industry.Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to produce about 58 million jobs in the next few years,according to a Research by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Children that are aware of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning will not only have job stability in their future,but will also be able to pursue the highest-paying career in the world today.
Social development
Friendships with AI chatbots might aid in the social and community development of kids. For example,they might provide a safe space for kids who are frightened to inform adults about bullying or sharing other things. Alternatively,a bot can act as a companion to a lonely kid. Or allowing children with learning disabilities to practise social interactions in a secure environment is another option.
The dark side
AI for kids offers a lot of promise in terms of boosting learning, growth, safety, and possibilities. However,there is always a dark side to everything. The concept of protecting children from misuse of artificial intelligence is crucial. They are still growing , and the way they connect with the rest of the world,perceive things,has long-term implications for their development and future.
Data Security- An often cited AI concern is that of data security. This is probably much more important when it comes to AI for children. Children may be unaware of the consequences of providing their data or how organisations may utilise it. As a result, it’s critical to keep an eye on the privacy of data utilised and gathered by AI for children.
Future Risk- As AI technologies affect employment shifts and changes, so will be the skills required. Children will grow up in a world with a drastically different work environment,therefore they must gain the skills necessary to thrive. They must constantly improve their abilities and keep learning new skills,to adjust with the fast-moving pace of the world.
Developmental Risk- Another issue associated with AI for children is its potential impact on their behavior and development.The influence of AI on social growth and communication abilities is a possibility. When it comes to AI,we don’t necessarily engage with it the same way we do with humans. If children engage with AI more than other children,this might have detrimental consequences.
Far from reality-If a social bot that children engage with consistently responds positively,they would acquire a demand for quick satisfaction and will not learn to deal with rejection. That is not how real life works. And such children respond to every situation with a flight or fight response,never recognizing the benefits of diplomacy,soft skills,or finding a medium ground.
Are there any guidelines/rules?
UNICEF has developed a set of rules for creating an AI that is focused on children. It has taken steps to ensure that children’s opinions are heard in policy-making. To create this document, about 250 children from various nations were consulted,as well as politicians, child development academics, and AI practitioners,in nine distinct workshops.
Nine guidelines were emphasized in the report:
Encourage the growth and well-being of children.
Ensure that children are included and cared for.
Fairness and non-discrimination for children should be prioritised.
Protect the data and privacy of children.
Ensure that the children are safe.
Children deserve transparency, explainability, and accountability.
Empower governments and businesses with knowledge of AI and children’s rights
Prepare children for current and future breakthroughs in artificial intelligence.
Create an appropriate environment for child-centered AI
A recent webinar by UNICEF revealed that children aged 12 to 16 had a deep comprehension of the consequences,demonstrating that they can engage in the policy-making process even on complex topics like AI.
AI has a bright future ahead of it, but it also comes with some challenges and ethical concerns. It is up to parents to steer their children in the proper route using AI so that they can have a great future. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are the next large sectors to learn and work in. There is an opportunity for parents to collaborate with teachers and the community in order to prepare kids for future success. If we merely adjust our mentality and take tiny measures to direct our everyday behaviours toward unleashing our kids’ potential, our combined efforts will have the power to influence the world. That’s something to be excited about!