Hello, Kids, Parents/Caregivers, Teachers, Librarians, and All Readers!
Let’s face it. AI–Artificial Intelligence is here, and it intends to stay! That can be exciting, scary, or both depending on your perspective!
Recently, while researching the ramifications of AI for authors, employees, students, and others, I encountered an aspect of AI called ChatGPT. Have you heard of it? What is it? Do you use it? Do you use it safely and ethically?
For this month’s blog, especially as it pertains to kids, let’s begin with ChatGPT, or Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer, which was developed by an AI research company called Open AI:
Basically, ChatGPT gathers large amounts of data from the internet to create responses on demand. ChatGPT is unique because its answers are in conversational format, similar to how people write and speak. Click HERE for a child-friendly explanation of what ChatGPT is.
Here is what I have learned from scratching the surface of this topic. I have also provided some resources:
More technically, “ChatGPT is an AI chatbot technology computer software that interacts with users. It can process our natural human language and provide answers to our questions or generate text about a given topic. People can ask ChatGPT questions in conversational, or natural, language–as if they were chatting with another person. Such programs are called chatbots. ChatGPT can answer complex questions,” among other tasks.
Necessary caveats: “It is important to check the credibility of a source before trusting a chatbot’s information.” My addition: It is important for everyone not to become overly reliant on chatbots!
My initial question was can ChatGPT be a threat to kids? Yes! “Open AI’s ‘Terms of Use’ state that users must be 18 or older; however, it doesn’t ask users to verify their age when creating an account. Younger kids could easily access ChatGPT . . . ” It can be alluring for kids to go beyond the limitations of ChatGPT, i.e., expose themselves to inappropriate content, and/or to make themselves rely on it for producing their assignments (cheating and plagiarism), and lose sight of academic integrity.
And can ChatGPT be useful to kids? Yes! It can help them become proficient in a language, gain valuable information, be a 24/7 tutor, and assist with their schoolwork, i.e., help them become smarter and model how they can improve their work.
Here are some RESOURCES for you on this topic:
What can parents/caregivers do to keep their kids safe with chatbots? Click HERE for “5 Ways Kids Can Use ChatGPT Safely.”
What do parents/caregivers need to know about ChatGPT? Click HERE for “How Your Kids Can Use ChatGPT Safely, According to a Mom.”
How are some schools responding to students using ChatGPT? Some are banning the use of ChatGPT. “The concern is that students could use it to do their schoolwork for them, from writing papers to solving equations [loss of academic integrity]. They could also be turning in work with inaccurate information. Educators are worried the program could affect students’ learning if they rely on it.” Click HERE to read more on this topic.
What are some overall guidelines for parents/teachers/caregivers/librarians to kids using ChatGPT? Click HERE.
What are the pros and cons of ChatGPT, and where is this technology going? Click HERE.
How can parents talk to their kids about ChatGPT (from Psychology Today)? Click HERE.
Do tools exist for detecting AI-produced text? Yes! Click HERE.
So, get a clue, Everyone. Chatbots have their pros and cons. Assistive technology discussions will burgeon. I will continue providing resources for you as I find them and share the pluses and minuses of ChatGPT for authors and others. Stay safe out there!
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