7 Great Ways That AI Can Benefit Kids
Guest blog by Honey Nounou
Did you know that Artificial Intelligence (AI) was invented as far back as the 1950s?
Many people have only become aware of its existence with the advent of ChatGPT, where it became the fastest and most widely adopted technology in history, gaining over 100 million users in less than 2 months.
This has skyrocketed the awareness and investment in AI, creating large opportunities for businesses and organizations to optimize their operations and streamline costs. AI is completely changing the way humans approach and interact with technology.
In turn, AI will have a massive influence on children in the way they learn, complete tasks, and the lifestyles they develop.
In an educational context, AI provides kids the opportunity to deviate from traditional learning models. It creates an experience that is customized to their personal learning styles, which improves their cognitive, social, and problem-solving skills.
Just as we prioritize foundational subjects like Math, Science, and English for our children, it's essential we also emphasize the importance of AI within the IT and computer science curriculum.
Honey Nounou
There are so many benefits of using AI in the education system. Below are some great benefits of AI that prepare our children for a future where technology isn't just a tool, but an extension of their imagination and capability.
What Is AI For Kids?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science focused on creating machines that can think and act like humans. AI can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence, such as recognizing speech or making decisions.
When we talk about "AI for Kids”, we're referring to introducing children to simplified, yet impactful versions of AI tailored to stimulate their curiosity, foster creativity, and enhance learning.
AI for kids is about making complex technological concepts accessible and engaging, ensuring that children aren't just passively consuming technology, but actively participating in it. By exposing them early to AI, we're raising a generation that is technologically advanced, innovative, and aware.
And here’s how they can benefit…
A Personalized Learning Experience
The traditional classroom has been treated and taught as a one-size-fits-all approach. However, every child is unique, each with their own pace of grasping concepts, individual interests, and specific strengths. This is applicable to students of all ages.
AI creates tailored education. By analyzing a child's interaction with content, AI technology pinpoints areas of strength and those that require more attention. It adapts in real-time, ensuring lessons resonate more deeply, challenges are introduced appropriately, and feedback is immediate and constructive.
AI learning platforms also evolve with the child, where lessons become more aligned with individual needs, and where the learning curve comes at a personalized pace and difficulty.
This not only keeps kids engaged; it creates a genuine passion for learning because every lesson feels tailored just for them.
AI has the potential to convert those kids who hate school to lovers of education, building confidence in their abilities and making them proactive learners.
2. Enhanced Creativity With AI Tools
There are now so many creativity tools that use AI. Examples include image generators, storytellers, and video and music creators. Kids have to use their imaginations to make new media with their words.
By using these tools, kids must learn to improve their communication by drawing on intangible and infinite concepts of their own minds into concrete and concise language. Additionally, the process is iterative, teaching kids to persist until they see or hear what they sense in their imaginations, working their ‘vision into reality’ muscle.
When kids are using AI for creativity, they are having a dialogue with the technology, simulating a partner that can match their interests and imagination.
3. Merging Cognitive Development And Physical Activity With AI Games
When we think of games, we often think of sedentary hours in front of screens, with controllers in hand. But what if games could seamlessly merge cognitive stimulation with physical activity? With AI-integrated games, you can!
These cutting-edge games are designed to challenge the mind and body simultaneously. Picture a game where kids, equipped with AI-powered wearables, participate in quests that require them to solve puzzles, but the solutions require physical movements — be it jumping, dancing, or even mimicking certain postures.
As they engage, the AI continuously adapts the challenges based on the child's cognitive responses and physical ability.
These games offer a twofold benefit.
Cognitively, they stimulate problem-solving, strategic thinking, and adaptability. Physically, they promote movement, coordination, and overall health. It's a holistic approach to gaming, where children can enjoy the fun of gaming without compromising on their physical well-being.
4. Developing Problem-Solving Skills
AI tools and platforms designed for children often come layered with puzzles, scenarios, and challenges that blend logical reasoning and creativity together.
For instance, when kids program a robot to navigate a maze, they aren't just inputting commands; they're critically analyzing the path, predicting obstacles, and iterating solutions based on feedback. Every misstep, every error, becomes a lesson, requiring them to refine their coding approach.
As these AI platforms adapt to a child's progress, the difficulty of challenges increases, ensuring continuous growth in their analytical capabilities. Similar to personalized learning tools outlined in benefit #1, it’s like having a personalized mentor that recognizes a student's strengths, identifies areas for improvement, and crafts challenges accordingly.
With regular use of these AI platforms, children learn to find solutions for problems, which promotes critical thinking and persistence.
5. Encouraging Interest in STEM Fields
The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields are not only incredibly important for society but are also very lucrative. A computer science major can earn 40% more than other college majors and salaries requiring STEM skills and knowledge average over $100,000/annum in the US. As subjects that students typically find more difficult, STEM can be made simple and easy with the help of AI tools.
Instead of abstract equations or distant scientific concepts, kids can experience real-time applications of STEM topics. When they interact with an AI tool that recognizes their voice, or when they command a robot to follow a set path, they may feel like they are just playing, when in reality they are learning about technology and engineering, often without even realizing it.
Hands-on experiences like this create curiosity. Questions like "How does the robot understand my command?" or "How can this program predict what song I'd like to hear next?" present an opportunity to develop an interest in coding, algorithms, and data science.
The tangible results of using AI tools and platforms, like seeing a machine respond and watching a program adapt, make the complex concepts of STEM understandable and relatable. By integrating AI into their learning early, kids can see how STEM subjects play a role in the real world, making a potential career path in these industries more accessible for everyone.
6. Enhancing Social Skills with AI-driven Interactions
Often, screen time is blamed for minimizing face-to-face interactions. How can AI possibly enhance social skills?
AI-driven platforms, especially those tailored for kids, often incorporate collaborative features. These might be multiplayer games, shared project platforms, or even global competitions.
When children team up to build a robot, code an application, or solve a virtual puzzle, they're learning to communicate, delegate, listen, and lead.
Additionally, AI tools can be designed to help kids understand emotional cues. For instance, applications that recognize and respond to a user's emotional state can aid children in recognizing and naming emotions. AI offers them a structured way to understand and manage their feelings.
By combining AI with social experiences, we're using technology as a bridge to open communication, understand emotions, and work with others, preparing them to thrive both on screen and in person.
7. Enhanced Safety And Content Filtering
With technology, social media, and the internet, one of our foremost concerns is ensuring our children’s safety.
While the internet provides a lot of learning opportunities, it also contains content and interactions that are not age-appropriate or safe. It is important to be aware and know about safety online as parents and teachers.
AI-powered systems are capable of real-time content analysis. Unlike static filters, which might block pre-defined sites or keywords, AI continually learns and evaluates. It understands context, recognizes patterns, and can differentiate between safe and potentially harmful content with no human interference. This means when kids search for information, watch videos, or even play online games, the AI ensures that the content they're exposed to is appropriate
AI can also detect unusual or potentially unsafe interactions. Be it cyberbullying, inappropriate communication, or any form of digital harassment, AI can flag such incidents, providing parents and teachers with immediate alerts and imposing restrictions.
By integrating content filtering and safety protocols, we can be confident that our children's interactions are educational, entertaining, and consistently safe.
Summary
Artificial Intelligence is improving the way children interact with technology, offering tailored learning experiences, and enhancing their creativity and social skills.
From personalizing education to safeguarding online interactions, AI provides children with tools that not only amplify their learning but also prepare them for a future where technology and AI are abundant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the application of AI for kids?
AI for kids comes in the form of learning platforms, games, and even digital assistants. It helps support them and provide guidance which promotes a healthy learning environment. AI tools also help kids improve their cognitive ability, social skills, and creativity in a fun and engaging way.
How do you explain AI to a 10-year-old?
AI is a way for computers to learn from experience and make decisions, similar to how our brains work. Instead of being told exactly what to do, they use information and patterns to figure things out on their own.
Why should kids learn AI?
Learning AI prepares kids for a future where technology plays a central role in various professions. It sharpens their problem-solving and critical thinking skills, enabling them to innovate and create. Additionally, understanding AI allows kids to be informed citizens who can make decisions responsibly.