Am I a bad mom for encouraging my children to use\u00a0AI<\/span>\u00a0for their schoolwork?<\/strong> <\/i><\/p>\n

Absolutely not.<\/i><\/p>\n

Do you feel like a bad mom for encouraging your children to take advantage of online tools? I don\u2019t. 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Those are all forms of \u201ccheating,\u201d they said. But all these things have something else in common. People who aren\u2019t so extreme can use them safely without creating obese or lazy little liars.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This outdated approach completely misses the point of education, which should prepare our children for fulfilling careers and lives.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 <\/span>technological fluency<\/i><\/b> to thrive. Yet most schools refuse to change, employing the same tired methods used 50 years ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

Far from being a detriment to future job prospects, I argue that AI proficiency enhances them. What employer wouldn\u2019t 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 My son may not know exactly where he wants to land, but it won\u2019t be in some outdated career where he\u2019ll be required to write reports and file paperwork.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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

No one can see the future, but the pace of innovation is moving so fast, we can\u2019t 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.<\/span><\/p>\n