Why should your child not use ChatGPT?
Alright, this might sound a bit controversial
Especially since it feels like everyone and their grandma is using ChatGPT or some AI tool these days. But here’s my take:
I definitely don’t think kids should be using AI at all.
Not even for studying
Think about it like this: for our generation, mobile phones were a big deal. At first, they seemed like magic, everything at your fingertips. But over time, we realized how hooked we got. Phones made us dependent, distracted us, and honestly, made us a little lazy when it came to remembering phone numbers or even just talking face-to-face.
My new book on MCP : Advanced AI Agents is out
Model Context Protocol: Advanced AI Agents for Beginners (Generative AI books)
ChatGPT? It’s kind of the same story for kids today.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not just some random person complaining about new tech. I’ve spent a ton of time working with ChatGPT, day and night, really digging into how it works. And honestly, I see some big red flags, especially for young minds.
What Science Says About AI and Our Brains
Before I dive into why I’m worried, check this out: there’s a recent research paper from MIT called “Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task.” Fancy title, but here’s the gist:
They found that when people use AI to help write essays, they start offloading their thinking. In other words, they stop really thinking for themselves.
The paper summary can be explored below
https://medium.com/media/218660974ce6a0e13ac682c43c118597/href
Imagine you have a kid who’s learning to write essays. If they start leaning on ChatGPT, they might never build the mental muscles needed to brainstorm, plan, or struggle through ideas. They just type in a prompt, and boom, an essay appears. Sounds convenient, but
It’s like skipping leg day at the gym. You don’t build strength.
Why Early Exposure to AI Can Be Risky for Kids
Here are some reasons why I think early AI use can cause more harm than good, along with some examples to help you see what I mean:
1. Forgetting How to Learn, Just Typing
When kids rely on AI, they start thinking learning is just about typing questions and getting answers. They might stop practicing how to think critically or solve problems on their own.
Example: Imagine a kid struggling with a math problem. Instead of trying to figure it out step-by-step, they just ask ChatGPT for the answer. Next time, they won’t even try solving it themselves — they’ll just copy the answer. Over time, they won’t really understand the concepts or develop problem-solving skills.
2. Easy Access dangerous topics
AI can give information on almost anything, even topics that kids might not be ready to understand or that are inappropriate for their age.
Example: A curious child might ask about something sensitive or confusing, like violent content or complex adult topics. The AI, without proper filters, might provide answers that are too much for a young mind, causing confusion or distress.
3. Schooling Will Become Boring and Questionable
If AI does the hard work for kids, schoolwork can feel pointless. Why bother trying if a robot can do it faster?
Example: A student might use AI to write essays or solve homework without understanding the material. When exams come, they’ll struggle because they never really learned the content. Teachers might also question the authenticity of students’ work, leading to trust issues.
4. No Innovative Projects
Creativity thrives on trial, error, and personal struggle. AI shortcuts can kill this process.
Example: Think of a kid asked to build a simple science project. If they use AI to generate the entire idea and write a report, they miss out on experimenting, testing, and learning from failures — which are the heart of innovation.
5. Believing AI Too Much
Kids can be impressionable and might take AI-generated answers as absolute truth, even when the AI is wrong or biased.
Example: If a child asks about history or science and gets a misleading or outdated answer from AI, they might accept it without question and spread incorrect information.
6. Privacy at Risk
When kids interact with AI, they might unknowingly share personal info or sensitive data, risking privacy.
Example: A child might tell the AI about their school, friends, or family without realizing that data can be stored or misused. Parents might worry about where this information goes and how it’s protected.
7. Social Disconnect
Spending time chatting with an AI instead of friends or family can affect social skills and emotional development.
Hope you saw the movie “Her”
Example: A kid who prefers talking to AI rather than playing or interacting with peers may miss out on learning empathy, reading emotions, or building friendships. Over time, this can lead to loneliness or social anxiety.
8. Ethical Issues and Bias
AI systems reflect the biases of their creators or data sources, which can unintentionally teach kids wrong ideas.
Example: AI might give biased answers based on gender, race, or culture without meaning to. A child might absorb these biases, reinforcing stereotypes or prejudices they shouldn’t have.
We all remember the DeepSeek saga
9. Reduced Attention Span
The instant gratification of AI answers can make kids less patient and less able to focus on longer tasks.
Example: If a kid is used to getting quick answers from AI, they may struggle to sit through a long reading or write an essay without constantly wanting shortcuts or distractions.
A Personal Story
I remember when I first got my smartphone. It was exciting but also distracting, I caught myself checking it all the time, even when I had nothing important to do. Over time, I realized it was making me a little lazy, especially when it came to remembering things or focusing.
Using ChatGPT feels similar. Sure, it can be helpful, but if kids grow up relying on it too early, I worry it’ll be like training them to be “typists” rather than thinkers.
Wrapping It Up
Look, I’m not saying AI is evil or that it doesn’t have a place in education. It absolutely does, but timing is everything.
Just like you wouldn’t hand a toddler a smartphone and expect them to use it wisely, we need to be careful about introducing kids to AI.
Let them learn how to think first. Let them get curious, ask questions, struggle a bit. Because that’s how real learning happens.
Stop your kids from using AI, ASAP was originally published in Data Science in Your Pocket on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
