Parents Grapple with AI's Impact on Kids

Published Date : 22-07-2025 

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, parents face the challenging task of balancing their fears with the potential benefits of AI for their children's future. 

When it comes to AI, many parents navigate between fear of the unknown and fear of their children missing out. “It's really hard to predict anything over five years,” said Adam Tal, an Israeli marketing executive and father of two boys aged seven and nine, when describing the post-generative AI world. Tal is “very worried” about the future this technology holds for his children — whether it's deepfakes, “the inability to distinguish between reality and AI,” or “the thousands of possible new threats that I wasn't trained to detect.”

Mike Brooks, a psychologist from Austin, Texas, who specializes in parenting and technology, worries that parents are keeping their heads in the sand, refusing to grapple with AI. “They're already overwhelmed with parenting demands,” he observed, and “just trying to get them out of their rooms and into the real world.”

For Marc Watkins, a professor at the University of Mississippi who focuses on AI in teaching, “we've already gone too far” to shield children from AI past a certain age. Yet some parents are still trying to remain gatekeepers to the technology. “In my circle of friends and family, I'm the only one exploring AI with my child,” remarked Melissa Franklin, mother of a 7-year-old boy and law student in Kentucky. “I don't understand the technology behind AI,” she said, “but I know it's inevitable, and I'd rather give my son a head start than leave him overwhelmed.”

The path is all the more difficult for parents given the lack of scientific research on AI's effects on users. Several parents cite a study published in June by MIT, showing that brain activity and memory were more stimulated in individuals not using generative AI than in those who had access to it. “I'm afraid it will become a shortcut,” explained a father of three who preferred to remain anonymous. “After this MIT study, I want them to use it only to deepen their knowledge.”

This caution shapes many parents' approaches. Tal prefers to wait before letting his sons use AI tools. Melissa Franklin only allows her son to use AI with her supervision to find information “we can't find in a book, through Google, or on YouTube.” For her, children must be encouraged to “think for themselves,” with or without AI.

But one father — a computer engineer with a 15-year-old — doesn't believe kids will learn AI skills from their parents anyway. “That would be like claiming that kids learn how to use TikTok from their parents,” he said. It's usually “the other way around.” Watkins, himself a father, says he is “very concerned” about the new forms that generative AI is taking, but considers it necessary to read about the subject and “have in-depth conversations about it with our children.” “They're going to use artificial intelligence,” he said, “so I want them to know the potential benefits and risks.”

The CEO of AI chip giant Nvidia, Jensen Huang, often speaks of AI as “the greatest equalization force that we have ever known,” democratizing learning and knowledge. But Watkins fears a different reality: “Parents will view this as a technology that will be used if you can afford it, to get your kid ahead of everyone else.” The computer scientist father readily acknowledged this disparity, saying “My son has an advantage because he has two parents with PhDs in computer science, but that's 90 percent due to the fact that we are more affluent than average” — not their AI knowledge. “That does have some pretty big implications,” Watkins said. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What are the main concerns parents have about AI?

A: Parents are concerned about the unknown long-term effects of AI on their children, the potential for misuse such as deepfakes, and the risk of children becoming overly reliant on AI for learning and decision-making.

Q: Why is it important for parents to engage with AI?

A: It is important for parents to engage with AI to understand its capabilities and risks, and to guide their children in using it responsibly and ethically. This helps children develop critical thinking skills and a balanced perspective on technology.

Q: What role can schools play in AI education?

A: Schools can play a crucial role in AI education by integrating AI concepts into the curriculum, providing hands-on learning experiences, and fostering discussions about the ethical implications of AI. This helps students become informed and responsible users of technology.

Q: How can parents balance the benefits and risks of AI for their children?

A: Parents can balance the benefits and risks of AI by setting clear guidelines for AI use, monitoring their children's interactions with AI, and encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They can also engage in ongoing conversations about AI's impact on society and personal development.

Q: What is the potential impact of AI on educational disparities?

A: AI has the potential to both reduce and exacerbate educational disparities. On one hand, it can provide personalized learning experiences and access to resources for all students. On the other hand, it can widen the gap if only affluent families have the means to provide their children with advanced AI tools and education. 

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