A contribution from Sophie Hundertmark
Sophie Hundertmark is an expert in the practical use of artificial intelligence with a focus on chatbots, AI strategies and responsible technology integration. She is a researcher and lecturer at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and is currently writing her dissertation in the field of Conversational AI at the University of Fribourg. As a consultant, she supports companies, administrations and educational institutions in the introduction of effective AI solutions. More about Sophie Hundertmark on LinkedIn.
A CustomGPT was used for linguistic and stylistic creation – as well as for translation. This is based on the GPT-5 language model from OpenAI and was developed by Sophie Hundertmark herself.
Have you ever wondered how your children perceive artificial intelligence (AI)? For many of us, AI is still a complex, abstract topic – and yet children encounter it as a matter of course in everyday life, whether through YouTube recommendations, Netflix algorithms or ChatGPT. This is precisely why it is a matter close to my heart to hold workshops on this topic with children.
My point is not that all children use AI all the time. I want them to understand AI. Understanding what is behind it, what opportunities and risks there are and what AI can – and cannot – be used for. Children are the future of our society, and if we teach them today to take a critical and reflective approach to AI, we are laying the foundations for a responsible digital future.
How I talk to children about AI
In my workshops, I always start with a simple but fundamental question: What is AI and where do you encounter it in everyday life?
The children’s answers surprise me every time. Many already have an amazing amount of prior knowledge. You understand that AI recognizes patterns and learns from them. Some are even familiar with the algorithms behind platforms such as YouTube or Netflix, which provide personalized recommendations.
Once we all agree on what AI is, I’ll go one step further: I’ll present ChatGPT as a concrete example of an AI tool.
Children and ChatGPT – already surprisingly familiar
What fascinates me again and again: Many children already know ChatGPT – some even use it regularly, both for school and in their free time. You often know that ChatGPT uses information from the Internet.
However, they are usually unaware of one crucial point: ChatGPT also makes mistakes. This is exactly where we begin to discuss in detail. I won’t let up until everyone understands that you should never blindly accept ChatGPT’s answers.
The most important rule is: You can only make good use of ChatGPT if you already have a rough idea of a topic and know what to look out for. Critical thinking is more important than ever in the age of AI – and children should learn this from the very beginning.
Practical use cases – learning with ChatGPT
Once we have clarified the basics, we will try out together how ChatGPT can help children to learn. Whether it’s repeating vocabulary, explaining math problems or creating quizzes – the possibilities are endless.
But the same applies here: ChatGPT is a tool, not a substitute for your own thinking. Mistakes are possible at any time, which is why the children must check and critically question the answers.
Data protection – a topic that children often understand better than adults
Another central point in my workshops is the handling of personal data.
And here I can only say: Hats off! Many children are incredibly cautious and would not even tell ChatGPT their name or age. When it comes to data protection, they are often more exemplary than many adults.
We then discuss which data can be entrusted to ChatGPT – such as the grade level when it comes to school assignments – and which must not be shared under any circumstances, such as the full date of birth.
AI can also be fun – the creative conclusion
There is always a little fun part at the end of my workshops. In the last workshop I held at a campsite in Ticino, we wrote a song with ChatGPT that summarizes the most important lessons learned. A great experience for everyone – and proof that AI can not only be educational, but also creative and entertaining.
You can watch the video here:
Conclusion
Children not only need to learn how to use AI – above all, they need to understand what AI is, what its limits are and how to use it responsibly. This is exactly what I want to achieve with my workshops. After all, critical thinking, a reflective approach to information and an awareness of data protection are the key skills of the digital future.
Any further questions?
I would be happy to support you if you are thinking about how you can introduce children to the topic of AI. I look forward to your messages – preferably via WhatsApp or e-mail.
And if you want to delve even deeper into the subject, I recommend my new book:
Hey AI, what are you doing? – An everyday guide for parents and children
