Prioritizing Responsible Use of AI in Children’s Technology

Designing AI That Protects Children's Well-Being and Rights.

Designing AI With Children In Mind

As AI technology becomes more prevalent in kidtech, edtech, and media, it is essential to consider its potential risks and challenges for children. While AI can potentially enhance children’s experiences, we must cautiously approach its use in kidtech and prioritize their needs.

The neglect of children’s well-being in Web 2.0 serves as a reminder that we are responsible for designing AI-driven products that prioritize safety, trust, and children’s rights. Misinformation and deep fakes generated by AI can significantly impact children’s mental health and emotional development, making it crucial to prioritize their well-being when designing generative AI products for kids, tweens, and teens.

Trust and Safety in Kids AI Products

To provide a good experience for children using AI products, it’s crucial to have trust and safety features incorporated. Implementing parental controls, content filtering, and age-appropriate recommendations are ways to safeguard kids from harmful content and interactions.

As we delve further into AI technologies like Chat GPT and Google Bard, developers, and policymakers must work together to establish industry standards prioritizing safety, accountability, and innovation.

Artificial Intelligence and Child Rights by Design

The rise of generative AI has brought new challenges for those designing technology for children. With GenAlpha, the first generation born entirely in the 21st century, growing up in a world where AI is increasingly embedded in their lives, it’s essential to learn from past mistakes and ensure that we put up guardrails before allowing children to interact with this powerful technology.

To ensure that artificial intelligence is developed in a manner that upholds the rights of children, several principles must be followed. One is the Designing for Child Rights principles, which stresses respecting children’s independence, security, and confidentiality. This involves allowing children to manage their data, ensuring they are not exposed to unjust or detrimental treatment, and safeguarding their privacy through intentional design.

When developing AI products for children, it is essential to prioritize their rights. This includes respecting their right to privacy, freedom of expression, and access to information. To promote child rights in AI, organizations such as UNICEF, the Digital Futures Commission, and the World Economic Forum provide helpful guidelines and frameworks for developers to follow.

The Impact of Misinformation and Deep Fakes on Children

Using AI to create misinformation and deep fakes can harm children’s mental health. Given that children are more susceptible to manipulation and may not possess the same critical thinking abilities as adults, exposure to misleading or harmful content can result in anxiety, stress, and a skewed perception of reality.

It is essential to prioritize implementing technology tools and methods that verify information to protect children from misinformation, deepfakes, and AI-generated images.

Responsible Usage of AI in Children’s Technology

In summary, using AI responsibly in kidtech, edtech, and children’s media is essential to safeguard children’s sensitive personal information and mental well-being. By prioritizing trust, safety, and children’s rights, we can ensure that AI fosters creativity, curiosity, and inclusivity and avoids repeating the errors we make by introducing media into our children’s lives.

Let’s collaborate to create a brighter future for our children and ensure that technology positively influences their lives.

Derek E. Baird, M.A.Ed., is the Chief Youth & Privacy Officer at BeMe Health. He is the author of The Gen Z Frequency, available in English, German, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, and Chinese editions on Amazon, Blinkist, or wherever you buy books.