In their living room in South Korea, a dad is employing generative artificial intelligence (genAI) to transform his child’s illustrations into video segments and brief tales, marking the emergence of a novel form of playtime.
Every week, the Kim family visits the library where they select a book. Afterward, they read it collectively, explore topics that intrigue them, and expand their understanding of various subjects.
Knowing young children can’t engage with AI tools independently, father Kim Jungu prepares a short, 30-minute AI session by writing tailored prompts in advance.
In one of the sessions, his five-year-old son Dohun interacts creatively with the AI by designing an imagined planet or crafting a narrative based in the Orion constellation.
The AI tutor enhances engagement by posing additional queries and presenting fresh details pertinent to the subject matter.
“I truly enjoy what she discovered since each time, the AI presents intriguing questions for me and shares valuable mathematical or scientific insights. Thus, I feel like I gain new knowledge weekly,” stated Kim, who serves as the Chief Product Officer (CPO) at an IT company, to Euronews Next.
Dohun has a passion for both outer space and drawing. Kim thinks of AI as an invaluable resource that can address queries even parents might find challenging, assisting his child in discovering new avenues for imagination and creativity.
“I can see that his agenda is expanding. Last week, we explored solar systems. But right now, he is exploring the outer side of the solar system. AI continuously gives him some of the seeds of the idea,” he added.
Although he believes that AI can be beneficial in broadening children’s understanding, he also recognizes the risk of becoming overly dependent on this technology.
“It’s also important that they don’t become overly dependent on it. As a parent, I think about how to guide that process carefully. Managing personal learning data is another concern,” Kim said.
Critical thinking is key
Experts in AI-driven education emphasize that the crucial aspect is allowing children to engage in playful learning, with an emphasis on ensuring that the duration and depth of these sessions align well with the child’s developmental stage.
“They might as easily be building with Lego blocks…” Professor Kwon Jung-min, an expert in AI education from Seoul National University of Education, stated to Euronews Next.
“From my viewpoint, it doesn’t truly matter what tools they are using, as long as they are fostering a positive relationship, even ifAI serves as their means of interaction,” she went on to say.
However, if this occurred more often or lasted for over two hours each day, it could potentially be excessive. This largely depends on the child’s age and their level of engagement.
Kwon believes that parents ought to ensure their kids can differentiate between AI and human beings.
“If a child is interacting with AI alone, this could indicate an issue as they may believe that, for instance, ChatGPT is a genuine living entity,” Kwon stated.
However, when a parent is engaged, their perspective and interaction with artificial intelligence matter significantly since children learn by observation. Therefore, it’s crucial to closely monitor both the parent’s and the child’s activities involving AI.
Kwon emphasizes that the emphasis shouldn’t solely be on artificial intelligence. Rather, education during this AI age ought to foster critical thinking through disciplines such as humanities, literature, and philosophy for children.
“The crucial aspect is how that child perceives ChatGPT,” Kwon stated.
She noted that without any educational background on understanding these technologies, children might see them as entities with superior power and knowledge, which could ultimately result in blindly following technological advancements.
Nevertheless, if a child possesses an educational background and insights into various philosophies—such as questioning what defines humanity, life, and being human—with this foundational knowledge and analytical skills, their viewpoint regarding artificial intelligence would significantly differ from that of a child without such exposure. This is precisely the type of individuals we require today.
Increasing pressure from the private education industry
Throughout South Korea, enthusiasm for AI education is rapidly growing. As certain households such as the Kims opt for more natural, play-oriented methods at home, educational institutions and private tutoring centers are increasingly incorporating programming and AI literacy into their programs.
Several individuals are employing AI tracking systems to monitor students’ educational advancements.
“The South Korean market for private education is substantial… this industry primarily caters to the demands of college admissions. In Korea, these examinations hold great significance as they determine an individual’s future societal standing. Consequently, parents frequently allocate considerable financial resources towards their offspring’s schooling with the aim of elevating their social position,” explained Kwon.
The European Union’s newly enacted AI Act – set to be implemented by August 2027 – categorizes artificial intelligence systems as high-risk in certain aspects of education like evaluating academic performance, assessing educational standards, and detecting prohibited student behaviors, states a report from the European Parliamentary Research Service.
For Kim, the focus isn’t on introducing technology at an early age. Instead, it’s about providing opportunities for her son to envision possibilities, merge different concepts, and investigate freely.
As he explored AI playtime at home, he started observing how rapidly private education was transforming into a high-stakes competition centered around AI.
He argues that the private education sector’s message, which cautions that children lacking AI skills will fall behind, is based on fear.
“He mentioned in a Treads post sharing his AI playtime experiences with other parents that it’s not about beginning early due to anxiety,” he stated.
it revolves around fostering creativity—exploring ideas, merging concepts, and envisioning possibilities. This holds greater importance than the technology alone.
Rather than focusing solely on that approach, he advocates for open discussions and shared experiences within a system predominantly geared towards preparing students for university entrance exams.
” We’re residing in a rapidly evolving world, and the coming decade our children will experience will be vastly distinct from what we’ve been familiar with,” Kim stated.
He further stated, ‘If there’s an effective educational approach or resource, I believe it’s crucial not to withhold it but rather share and discuss it with others, allowing us to collectively discover improved pathways.’
Kim mentions that he has been motivated by the large number of parents who have contacted him following his online sharing of AI-related sessions.
Attempts to address the AI gap in Europe
Although concerns have been expressed in Korea, Kwon believes that Europe is well positioned to teach children about AI.
“From the standpoint of the government, both the economy and international competition hold significant importance. Nevertheless, children should not concern themselves with these matters,” Kwon stated.
“I am concerned about their critical thinking skills, as these resemble the European approach since Europeans tend to engage deeply with AI from a critical perspective. Although they were slower in adopting AI technology, they possess strong foundational principles for fostering ethical AI development,” she noted.
Across Europe, government officials are incorporating AI literacy into primary education systems, frequently presenting it as an essential ability for coming generations.
The primary objective is to guarantee equal access to this form of education, ensuring that every child, irrespective of their background, can effectively manage an AI-dominated world—a move deemed crucial by UNESCO.
In 2019, the United Kingdom set up an autonomous advisory group called the AI Council to provide guidance to the government regarding the artificial intelligence sector. The council’s aim is for “everyone to feel secure living alongside AI.”
According to a report released in 2021, the council proposed establishing an online academy focused on comprehending artificial intelligence using reliable resources and programs. This initiative aims to assist educators, schoolchildren, and individuals pursuing continuous education.
Kim believes that children should learn to interact with artificial intelligence because they won’t be able to escape encountering it, whether at school or elsewhere.
He suggested that his idea was about showing them how they can use AI to boost both their creative abilities and educational pursuits.
“Children possess tremendous potential. However, it can be quite challenging for us adults to match their creative capabilities,” Kim noted.
Artificial intelligence has the ability to provide children with knowledge, thereby enhancing their creativity. Since creativity stems from curiosity. However, I think that creativity also flourishes through knowledge. Thus, I discovered the possibility that AI might assist in fostering this creative development.
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