AI and Children: An Opportunity to Foster Critical Thinking and Empathy

This article was written for Observador (Portuguese Newspaper) and originally written in Portuguese.

AI (Artificial Intelligence) has become an indispensable technology, raising the question: How do we prepare children for a future where technology is omnipresent? How should we shape the curricula of Computer Science and other subjects to prepare future generations—and ourselves?

Teaching programming and digital skills is essential, but the real question is whether we are equipping young people with the critical and ethical tools needed to navigate a world dominated by AI.

Critical Thinking as a Step Toward Ethics

In a world where misinformation is abundant, critical thinking is an essential skill. Children need to learn to question, analyze sources, and make informed decisions—not to propagate skepticism, but to become thoughtful citizens capable of discerning the truth. Technology reflects the values of its creators; therefore, it is crucial to teach responsibility in the use and creation of technology. An ethical education, guided by critical thinking, is vital for new generations to understand the impact of their innovations on society.

The Benefits of Understanding Our Relationship with AI

When used with understanding, AI has enormous potential to improve our lives; it will not only profoundly alter society but also enhance our individual potential. On one hand, it is seen as a facilitator of routine tasks, performing them autonomously; on the other hand, it serves as a multiplier, capable of processing and conveying knowledge, a creative companion, and an emotional imitator.

We live in almost inexplicable times, oscillating between admiration, inspiration, and fear of the unknown. We must equip our students and explore the relationship between the human and the digital.

We can begin by assessing some effects of this relationship with AI in ourselves. Vânia Baldi explores some of these effects in “Between Virtual Inconsistency and Machina Sapiens.” She identifies three observable, almost anthropological effects: automation bias, the predisposition of users to accept suggestions from AI systems; automation complacency, the spontaneous gratification with results produced by AI, potentially leading to weak vigilance; and algorithmic aversion, the inclination to reject AI suggestions.

It will be useful to utilize the awareness and discernment of these effects to shape educational goals around these topics.

What to Teach in the Classroom?

Computer Science—integrated into the curricula of countries like the UK and Israel since 2014—has become even more relevant with the advancement of AI. While AI can enhance knowledge, it will never replace the deep understanding and skills gained from learning to program.

As the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) emphasizes in its guide “Teach AI,” “Programming is more than producing code; it is an exercise that encourages creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.”

Creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration are precisely the skills necessary for working healthily with AI, both individually and societally, in the act of consumption and creation.

Each of these competencies enhances our interaction with AI: creativity allows for the creation and adaptation of ideas, which is essential for working with AI; critical thinking serves as a filter for ethical and informed decisions; and finally, the ability to collaborate fosters teamwork while we refine solutions.

Humanizing Technology: Conclusion

How should we shape Computer Science and other subjects to prepare future generations—and ourselves?

As Mustafa Suleyman stated in a talk in April 2014, “What is AI?” AI is nothing more than a reflection of everything we have created and evolved until now. It encompasses all that it knows and all that it has ‘read.’ He concludes, “As we develop AI, we can and should reflect everything good, everything we love, everything special about humanity: our empathy, our kindness, our curiosity, our creativity. This presents the greatest challenge of the 21st century.”

It is with this inspiration that we must create lesson plans for our young and future creators.