Am I a bad mom for encouraging my children to use AI for their schoolwork?

Am I a bad mom for encouraging my children to use AI for their schoolwork?

Absolutely not.

Do you feel like a bad mom for encouraging your children to take advantage of online tools? I don’t. Although that opinion is out there, circulating Facebook from influencers and alarmists. Twenty years ago, we were told not to plunk the kids down in front of the television when we needed a break. And we were encouraged not to rely on prepackaged food for snacks.

Those are all forms of “cheating,” they said. But all these things have something else in common. People who aren’t so extreme can use them safely without creating obese or lazy little liars.

Schools have been failing our children for decades. As a mother of twins, I’ve seen firsthand how the education system focuses on rote memorization and standardized testing instead of teaching critical life skills. Math class drills equations but doesn’t explain how to balance a budget. English stresses five-paragraph essays but not how to write a professional email.

This outdated approach completely misses the point of education, which should prepare our children for fulfilling careers and lives. In today’s innovation economy, people need flexibility, creativity, and technological fluency to thrive. Yet most schools refuse to change, employing the same tired methods used 50 years ago.

Far from being a detriment to future job prospects, I argue that AI proficiency enhances them. What employer wouldn’t want to hire a video producer who was fluent in the use of AI technology? My son may not know exactly where he wants to land, but it won’t be in some outdated career where he’ll be required to write reports and file paperwork. They need to stay on top of technology if they are going to fill the jobs of tomorrow.

Using AI, my son already has experience creating a webpage, pitching a business idea to investors, creating a budget and generating sales. He learned none of that in school. We need to focus on helping kids achieve the kinds of things that will propel them to success in the real world and that starts with AI.

No one can see the future, but the pace of innovation is moving so fast, we can’t afford to leave our kids behind. While artificial intelligence may replace some rote functions of writers, teachers and even doctors, that only makes it more important to show our children how to master the software and its applications.

The prevalence of AI in all disciplines means that workers who know how to interface with the technology will be in high demand. Denying students AI’s benefits out of unfounded technophobia harms their preparation for life after graduation. Sheltering kids from modern tools like AI handicaps their career prospects while other nations race ahead.

Of course, schools must supervise responsible development and use of classroom AI. Student privacy, safety, and wellbeing should remain top priorities. AI should supplement, not supplant, human teachers’ judgment. Schools should involve parents, teachers, and technology experts in choosing the best AI tools for their classrooms.

Implementing these vital safeguards, I submit that AI can and should become an accepted part of modern learning. Our kids are digital natives fluent in technologies most adults can barely understand. For them, AI feels intuitive, not scary. They rightfully expect to use cutting-edge tools in the classroom, just as they do in everyday life. By integrating AI into lessons, schools can make learning more engaging, effective, and aligned with the real world. They can truly prepare students for higher education, career success, and informed citizenship.

Isn’t this what we all want for the next generation? The choice is clear – it’s time to bring classroom education into the 21st century with AI. As mothers, I urge you to contact your children’s teachers to discuss the integration of AI projects into their curriculum. If they resist, ask them how they plan to prepare our children for the next level of employment. Attend a PTA meeting and start a discussion with other parents. AI is an emotional topic that many people react to on a gut level without considering the pros and cons. You can help open an honest dialogue about the benefits. Together, we can reshape education so it equips students for the amazing futures they deserve. But we must put aside our fear and accept that the world is changing.

Contributed by Gretchen Elhassani

Gretchen Elhassani is a freelance writer living in North Carolina. She has a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science and worked as a secretary for a large nonprofit organization up until COVID. She completed over 50 romance novels for various clients and more than 20 nonfiction titles on subjects ranging from parenting to healthcare. Under her own name, she has published two collections of interviews entitled A Book About 2020: The Pandemic as Seen by the Rest of Us, and It’s Time to Build; The Life of Masjid Ibrahim, Stories of the People.