Artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT have already begun to change the way many people work, communicate and organize their lives. And they’re just the beginning. AI tools are expected to revolutionize a range of industries as they improve in quality in the coming years.
ChatGPT and similar tools also have an increasing presence in classrooms, and in the lives of young people. A majority of students aged 12 to 18 surveyed earlier this year said that they had used ChatGPT. Half said they’d already used it for school. But only a third of parents said they had used the chatbot.
What does all this mean for parents of teens and tweens? To help explain this exciting but disruptive technology, the SALT effect blog answers seven important questions about ChatGPT. An edited version of that article is presented below.
1. What is ChatGPT?
It’s an artificial intelligence chatbot — AI “chat robot.” It mimics human conversation based on training to understand human language.
At a basic level, it can answer questions, give information and engage in conversation. But it can also write an essay on any given topic, original lyrics to a song, code for 3D animation … the possibilities are endless.
2. How does ChatGPT work?
This type of tool can be confusing, especially for those without a tech background. So why not ask ChatGPT to explain itself, in a way a middle schooler could understand? This video shows the response.
3. What is ChatGPT not able to do?
It’s especially important to communicate this technology’s limitations to kids. It may feel like talking to a person at times, but ChatGPT is not conscious and it can’t provide emotional support.
And though its knowledge base is vast, it’s not connected to the internet. Currently, it can’t provide accurate information about events that have occurred since September 2021.
4. What are the risks of ChatGPT for tweens and teens?
Like the internet broadly, there’s always the chance that kids are exposed to inappropriate content while using ChatGPT. The chatbot acknowledges that it “may occasionally produce harmful instructions or biased content.”
ChatGPT is also not always accurate, making it even more important for parents to emphasize media literacy to their children.
5. What are the benefits of ChatGPT for tweens and teens?
The base version of ChatGPT is free to use, and its applications are nearly endless. Students use it for help with homework and studying. They can use its knowledge to explore potential career paths and help set goals. And it’s an entertaining conversation partner, taking prompts into imaginative, sometimes unpredictable directions.
6. What about ChatGPT and cheating?
ChatGPT can write full essays and solve math problems, so it’s already been used widely for academic cheating. While tools do exist that try to identify AI-generated work, this phenomenon presents an opportunity for parents to talk to their kids about the ethics of AI and schoolwork.
7. What are some good resources about ChatGPT for parents?
AI is here to stay, so there’s a lot of discussion around the topic online and in day-to-day life. The Salt effect blog recommends the nonprofit Common Sense Media, as well as coverage from outlets such as PBS and The New York Times.
For the full article, visit salteffect.com.
