The Double-Edged Sword Of AI: Will It Empower Or Endanger The Next Generation?

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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, Simona Vasytė, CEO of Perfection42, shares how AI, a powerful tool with both benefits and risks, is poised to shape our children’s future, requiring responsible usage and parental guidance.

Written by Simona Vasytė

https://www.perfection42.com/

Just as the internet became an inseparable part of my generation, AI will be the same for our children. It does not matter if we like it or not, AI is here to stay, and it will shape the world our kids grow up in. Just as we had to learn to navigate the web, they’ll need to learn how to live with AI.

AI can do incredible things for our children – such as make learning more fun, help them understand complex concepts, or even create personalized educational experiences. Imagine AI-powered tools that would allow children to jump into history with interactive experiences of historical figures. For instance, they could help Da Vinci design a new invention or assist the renowned physicist Marie Curie in discovering a new element. Such experiences would change learning from being a task to an adventure.

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AI In Education

For example, the Summit Learning Program has already implemented AI in the learning and teaching process and is used across the United States. It is adapted to each student’s pace and learning style. It helps identify student’s knowledge gaps and then prepare a personalized learning plan. As a result, students achieve more academically and are more engaged as they see that the content is both relevant and challenging.

But, much like the internet, AI also has its dark sides. The same technology, capable of generating enjoyable educational content, can turn out to be harmful and misleading. I am speaking about AI content that looks innocent but turns out to be disturbing.

For example, certain videos are flooding YouTube children’s channels – created by AI – that are inappropriate for young children. We have seen a look-alike SpongeBob teaching Patrick how to shave his private parts and scenes displaying eyeballs floating in space. These scenes not only confuse but at times can even traumatize a young viewer.

AI-generated content floods the internet and sometimes can get beyond our control. It means inappropriate content can sneak through and may leave a child confused or desensitized with violence. It can easily distort reality, especially if your child sees familiar characters acting out of the norm. Over time, a child may believe that all content is safe just because lovable characters are involved.

Protection Of Children

But who is going to take the responsibility for supervision of what children watch? There’s no question that children will be spending more time with AI-driven tools in the future. This means the content they interact with needs to be carefully monitored. However, statistics show that only 17% of parents actively seek to understand how these technologies work.

As a mother and the CEO of an AI company, I’m in a unique position to see both the benefits and risks of AI. At Perfection42, we’re committed to developing AI tools that enrich education and entertainment ethically.

For example, we are building some experimental AI tools that help the quality of education – such as AI-driven slide preparation, content creation, and real-time assessments. They have caught the interest of some colleges looking forward to improving the teaching and learning of the institutions.

However, we can’t ignore the fact that not all creators share this same commitment. The misuse of AI to generate harmful content is a growing concern, and it’s one that parents need to take seriously. After all, there are far worse things on the internet that aren’t AI-created, like pornography, and parents wouldn’t think of allowing their children to watch those.

Parental Protection

Legislation, such as the EU’s drive for more transparency in AI-generated content, is a good start. Real change, however, begins at home. Parents are the first line of defense. We need to watch out for what our kids watch and interact with. Use parental controls to block access to inappropriate content, but don’t stop there. Spend time watching AI-generated content with your children. Fast-forward through videos and compare what you see with the original characters. If something feels off, it probably is.

AI can become a very strong tool to raise emotionally resilient and all-rounded children. Otherwise, AI will lead them down a dangerous path if we are not careful.

Simona Vasytė

Simona Vasytė is the CEO of Perfection42, a company that specializes in customizable, predictive AI solutions. She started the company in 2011 to build solutions for automating repetitive and mundane tasks that let artists and businesses concentrate on what matters most – creating great stories and visuals. She is also a mother growing a small kid. Being both a parent and a tech expert gives her a special insight into how technology, ethics, and keeping kids safe all connect.

About Perfection42

Perfection42 provides advanced AI solutions for the visual arts, focusing on game development, animation, architecture, design, and art industries. Their predictive AI tools automate the visual creation process, delivering precise results and reducing production time by at least 50%. Perfection42’s customizable AI tools help businesses and artists scale their creative processes efficiently.