AI voice assistants have revolutionized the way we communicate and interact with the world. As a parent, I am concerned about how this exposure will affect my child’s communication skills as she grows older. In order to counteract this, I am engaging in conversations with her about effective communication techniques. Thank you for signing up! You can now access your favorite topics in a personalized feed on-the-go by downloading the app.
Even at the tender age of one, my daughter has already become familiar with the robotic voice of Alexa in my mom’s kitchen. She shows curiosity when we use it to set timers or check the weather. However, I can’t help but wonder how growing up with AI voice assistants will shape her interactions with the world. It’s natural to question the impact of new technology on developing minds. I have concerns about how AI voice assistants may hinder children’s ability to communicate with real people, blur the lines between fact and fiction, and pose risks to data security. It turns out, I’m not alone in my worries.
Insider spoke with experts to gain insights on the use of AI voice assistants by kids. Fiona Yassin, a family psychotherapist and founder of The Wave Clinic, emphasized how children are naturally inclined to seek information as they navigate the world. “As kids, the information-seeking part of us is probably the most powerful skill that we possess,” she stated. However, the use of AI-powered assistants is changing the way we communicate, thereby altering children’s learning patterns. Yassin believes that as parents and educators, we are able to provide age-appropriate answers that align with our cultural and ethical values. This level of guidance is lacking when children receive information solely from AI voice assistants. To address this gap, I aim to engage in open and ethical discussions with my daughter on sensitive topics like sex education, substance abuse, body image, and diet.
When it comes to using AI voice assistants around children, the experts emphasize the importance of maintaining curiosity and actively participating in the questioning and answering process. Kelley Yost Abrams, a child-development psychologist and member of BabyCenter’s medical advisory board, suggests continuing conversations with children about the responses they receive, encouraging them to evaluate the credibility of the information and teaching them how to verify it. For young children, this can involve pointing out humorous answers or jointly exploring the outcomes of different inquiries. Alex Postbechild, an ethical hacker at JISC and author, encourages critical thinking by prompting his own child to evaluate whether they are asking the right questions and to consider multiple perspectives. Developing the ability to evaluate and weigh information is a crucial skill that can be applied to various aspects of life.
AI voice assistants are engineered to mimic human speech patterns, blurring the line between humans and technology. Jennifer Chubb, a research fellow at the University of York, raises concerns about the impact on moral, social, and linguistic development, privacy, parental control, and the need for regulation. Children may start expecting instant responses or treating voice assistants like friends rather than machines. Chubb poses an intriguing question, “What happens when that ‘Alexa’ breaks?” For very young children, the distinction between reality and fiction is seamless, making it vital to remind them in age-appropriate ways that these devices are not human.
Privacy, security, and parental control are important considerations when it comes to using AI voice assistants. Chubb highlights the need to educate children about the power of their words and the importance of safeguarding personal information in the digital world. It is crucial for children to understand that they have ownership over their own voice and should be mindful of what and how they share their thoughts and feelings. While parental controls are available on devices like Alexa and Google Assistant, it is essential to regularly update these settings and ensure that children are not bypassing them. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many parents are unaware of the existence of these controls. Features like Amazon Kids and Google’s parental controls enable parents to set time limits, filter content, and review activity. Additionally, features like Alexa Voice ID, Visual ID, and Google Assistant Voice Match and Face Match offer age-appropriate experiences and responses. However, it is still necessary to remain vigilant as children often possess a higher proficiency in manipulating technology than their parents do in controlling it.
Although AI is a pervasive reality, we should not shy away from it, according to Chubb. Instead, we should equip children with critical thinking skills to navigate this AI-powered world. While I may not be getting an Alexa anytime soon for my family, I acknowledge that my daughter will grow up in a world where voice assistants are the norm. My goal is to teach her the importance of critically analyzing information and questioning both the questions asked and the answers received. By nurturing these skills, she will be better prepared to navigate an AI-driven society while maintaining her ability to communicate effectively with real people.
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