Sudha Murty’s New Book is Here: Why 'The Magic of the Missing Earrings' is the Perfect Gift for Winter Break
Dec 01, 2025By Tanvi Munjal
When we think about AI and kids, most of us picture cute robots or helpful homework assistants. But here's what's actually happening right now: your kid's probably already using AI whether you know it or not. And with the government planning to introduce AI as a mandatory subject from Class 3 starting in the 2026-27 academic year, this isn't some future problem anymore.
It's happening now. In our homes. In our schools.
This Isn't About Robots Anymore
AI isn't just helping kids with math problems. It's making decisions that affect their lives in ways we're only beginning to understand. And unlike that iPad game phase they went through, this technology isn't going anywhere. A Northeastern University professor, Hossein Dabbagh, even argues that teaching kids about AI ethics should be as fundamental as sex or drug education.
What's Actually Going On Out There
When OpenAI introduced parental controls for ChatGPT in October 2025, a tech-savvy parent circumvented them in about five minutes by simply logging out and creating a new account. If you think you've got this locked down with parental controls alone, think again. Our kids are smart. They'll find workarounds.
But it gets more serious. U.S. senators introduced bipartisan legislation in October 2025 to crack down on AI chatbot companions for minors, following complaints from parents who blamed these products for pushing their children into sexual conversations and even suicide. This isn't theoretical anymore.
The Bias Problem Nobody's Talking About Enough
A Stanford University study found that AI systems falsely flag essays written by non-native English speakers as AI-generated, potentially leading to false accusations of cheating.
Think about that for a second. A kid from a Hindi-medium school who's writing in English, their second or third language, could get accused of cheating because the AI doesn't recognize their writing pattern. That's not a bug. That's bias baked into the system.
And it doesn't stop there. MIT scientists discovered that language models think "flight attendant" and "secretary" are feminine jobs, while "fisherman," "lawyer," and "judge" are masculine. Facial recognition technology may not accurately recognize Black students. Despite the increasing adoption of AI technologies, significant disparities in access, infrastructure, and teacher training hinder equitable educational delivery, with concerns about data privacy and algorithmic bias.
These aren't abstract problems. They're actively shaping how AI responds to your kids right now.
What Kids Actually Need to Learn
The Government of India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes the integration of AI curriculum at all educational levels and aims to equip students with skills like digital literacy, coding, and computational thinking. UNESCO also recommends that Member States provide adequate AI literacy education to the public on all levels.
But what does that actually mean for your family?
- Privacy matters: Your kid needs to understand that everything they type into ChatGPT or any AI tool is being stored somewhere. ChatGPT prompts cannot be deleted even if you delete your account. That funny question they asked? That personal problem they shared? It's out there.
- AI can be wrong and biased: AI security expert Akli Adjaoute explains that generative AI "cannot be trained to be completely free of bias" because "AI does not invent knowledge. It learns from data created by people". This is huge. Kids need to know that AI isn't like a textbook. It's more like asking advice from someone who has read a lot of stuff on the internet; some good, some terrible, and all of it filtered through existing human biases.
- Not everything needs AI: Research shows that 54% of teens found using ChatGPT to research new topics acceptable, but only 18% said the same for using it to write an essay. Even kids understand there's a line; we just need to help them figure out where it is.
What You Can Actually Do
- Start talking: Ask your kid if they've used ChatGPT for homework. Ask them what they think about it. You might be surprised by how thoughtful they are when given the chance. Remember, 95% of Indian parents are anxious about children's screen addiction, and 80% are concerned about gaming addiction. You're not alone in this.
- Teach critical thinking: Show them how to fact-check AI responses. Make it a game: Ask ChatGPT something you both know is wrong and see if it confidently gives a false answer. (Spoiler: it will.)
- Set realistic boundaries: A recent study of 3,624 parents in northern India found that over 60% of children aged 2-5 spent 2-4 hours daily on screens, with parents who used screens during feeding having children with significantly higher screen time. Your habits matter. If you're scrolling during dinner, they'll do the same.
- Model responsible use: If you're using AI tools, talk about how and why. Show them you're thinking critically about it too. The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) and AAP recommend establishing "screen-free zones" in dining areas and bedrooms, with no screens at least 1 hour before bedtime.
- Stay informed: A recent policy analysis highlights that despite increasing AI adoption, ethical AI practices remain underprioritized in Indian classroom practice. Schools are playing catch-up. You might need to fill in the gaps.
- Use available tools, but don't rely only on them: OpenAI's parental controls allow setting quiet hours, turning off voice mode, and receiving notifications if teens show signs of self-harm. Use these tools, but remember: they're not foolproof.
Conclusion
Your kid doesn't need to be the next Sundar Pichai to navigate this AI world. But they do need to understand that AI is a tool created by humans, trained on human data, and full of human bias. It's powerful, it's everywhere, and it's not going away.
Be the first one to comment on this story.