The following is excerpted from an online article posted by Parents
Parents hear so much about AI these days—how their kids are using it in the classroom and to socialize, even considering it a friend in some cases—and one of the most prominent debates going on right now is whether AI is here to save humanity, or doom it. At one extreme are folks who see AI as a way to make life more efficient and convenient. On the opposite end, others see it as a tool that is stealing our literacy and critical thinking skills.
You’ve probably seen those viral posts of kids booing speeches about AI at college commencements. Plus, there have been multiple news pieces about the backlash against AI in general, much of it spearheaded by young people who just aren’t interested in using this new technology.
Some teens have deep concerns about AI’s environmental footprint, explains Jeff Temple, PhD, professor and psychologist at UTHealth Houston. Others are worried about how AI might impact job prospects, and others are skeptical about AI’s impact on learning, creativity, and real human connection, he adds.
For many kids, AI is wrapped up in a general mistrust of information on the internet—in particular where it comes from and whether or not it’s accurate.
At least their skepticism allows them to see past falsehoods and AI-generated content. Dr. Avila says that younger people are more aware of fake AI-generated content than older cohorts.
“Seeing this fake content rise precipitously over the last few years has created a general mistrust of what they see,” she says. “A sense of distrust like this can lead to higher anxiety and greater need to push back against any system or technology they feel is at fault.”