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While parents do have concerns about their children’s exposure to AI in the classroom, some would still support their children using AI for schoolwork, according to a survey from Norton, a consumer Cyber Safety brand of Gen.
While AI offers promising enhancements to education, ethical and safety implications give many parents pause. With 93 percent of parents of school children ages 5 and up concerned about AI being used in the classroom or at school, the survey offers a deeper dive into what parents think about their children using AI. It also shares best practices to safely navigate the back-to-school season.
Parents’ perspective on the dangers and benefits of AI in education
Parents of school children ages 5 and up have mixed opinions on their children using AI. Among the top concerns:
- 51 percent worry about their children coming across inappropriate content.
- 50 percent are concerned that AI-generated content may be biased or incorrect, and they fear an over-reliance on technology.
- 46 percent are apprehensive about their children sharing personal data online.
Despite these concerns, many parents remain optimistic about AI’s role in their children’s lives, touting the various ways that it can be used to a child’s advantage in the classroom. Norton found:
- Nearly half (49 percent) of parents noted they would approve of their child using AI to complete schoolwork, out of the 35 percent of parents who support their oldest child using AI in the classroom.
- 69 percent believe it should be utilized for research in classrooms or at school.
- 48 percent trust lesson plans and curriculum created with AI tools.
- On the other hand, only one-fourth (25 percent) of parents with children ages 5 and up are very confident teachers will be able to identify assignments or essays produced by AI.
Helping keep kids cybersafe
Here are some tips to help keep your children cybersafe at school this year:
- Protect personal information: Educate your children on how to safeguard their personal information, regardless of whether they’re interacting with AI platforms or chatbots.
- Verify website safety and use a VPN: It is important for you and your children to check the browser connection and the URLs to ensure a site is secure, even more so when accessing AI tools or platforms.
- Enable age-appropriate settings: Using AI settings designed for different age groups will help ensure your family is set up for success when handling AI tools and platforms.
- Promote integrity and responsibility: Norton advises parents and teachers to talk with children and students about the importance of integrity and mindful behavior as a foundational step of cyber safety.
This press release originally appeared online.
