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Raising youth and children in the age of AI: A Christian parent’s guide
By 
Kate Orson2025-05-23T07:25:00
AI such as ChatGPT can be fascinating for children and young people. It can deliver a wealth of information in split seconds and can even be conversed with. But with ethical concerns about plagiarism, reports of AI addiction, and even the threat of AI becoming sentient, how should we talk to our children about AI?
A 2024 study, to be published in Human-Centric Intelligence Systems, looked at how ChatGPT creates dependency through “features such as personalised responses, emotional validation, and continuous engagement.” The researchers concluded that the technology can “blur the line between AI and human interaction, creating pseudo-social bonds that can replace genuine human relationships.” They found that ChatGPT can work similarly to other addictions, with increased use that, if taken to an extreme, can interfere with a person’s daily life.
The Luddite side of me might be tempted to ban ChatGPT altogether, but I can’t deny that it can be incredibly useful and that AI systems have become an unavoidable part of daily life. I’ve been using ChatGPT to prepare for an Italian exam I’m taking soon. I can practise writing in Italian, and ChatGPT will correct my text—just like a teacher. It’s pretty amazing to have this kind of knowledge and expertise at the click of a button.
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