Child to Parent: “But you use AI in your business, so …”

I have had many conversations with my kids about when and how to use AI as a Student vs how we use it as adults in a business context. The line is getting harder and harder to draw.

There are now AI tools that can create books, videos, podcasts and much more educational/informational content in a click. Is it possible that in a business context that the people using AI in these settings are doing so wihtout clearly understanding the information they are passing on?

Yep. It is possible. 

So, the topic of AI use in business versus academic settings is nuanced and brings up several ethical, practical, and developmental considerations. Let’s dive into this and explore the distinctions:

Is There a Difference?

Yes, there is a difference, but it’s essential to break down the context and purpose behind using AI in both scenarios.

AI in Business

1. Purpose and Intent: In business, AI is used as a tool to enhance productivity, streamline processes, and support creativity. It’s a means to optimize time and resources, allowing professionals to focus on strategic and high-value tasks. For instance, AI can help draft content, generate marketing copy, or analyze data, but the final product often involves significant human oversight, refinement, and strategic input.
2. Skill Enhancement: Professionals already possess foundational skills in their fields. AI assists in expanding their capabilities rather than replacing the need for foundational knowledge or expertise. The goal is often to complement human creativity and decision-making, making processes more efficient and effective.
3. Transparency and Ethics: In many professional contexts, transparency is maintained about AI involvement. For instance, when AI tools are used to create content, it’s acknowledged that the AI is a part of the process, but not the sole creator. Ethical use involves disclosing AI contributions and ensuring the human element remains central to the creative and decision-making process.

AI in Education

1. Learning and Development: The primary goal in an educational setting is learning. Students are developing foundational skills, knowledge, and critical thinking abilities. Using AI to complete assignments bypasses this developmental process. If students rely on AI to do the work for them, they miss out on the learning experience, which is detrimental to their growth and understanding.
2. Academic Integrity: Schools and educators value original thought and personal effort as part of the learning journey. When students use AI to generate essays or solve problems, it can be considered a form of academic dishonesty, similar to plagiarism. It undermines the purpose of education, which is to foster independent thinking and problem-solving abilities.
3. Skill Building: While AI can be a useful tool for learning, its role should be as an assistant for better understanding concepts, rather than replacing the act of learning itself. For example, students could use AI to clarify doubts or to practice questions, but the actual learning should still come from their own effort and engagement with the material.

Addressing the Kids’ Perspective

It’s understandable that kids might see AI usage as a shortcut in both contexts, but here’s how to frame the argument:

1. Context Matters: Explain that the purpose of using AI in business is fundamentally different from its purpose in education. In business, AI supports efficiency and productivity for people who already have a foundation of knowledge and experience. It’s like a power tool in the hands of a skilled worker.
2. The Learning Journey: For students, the process of struggling through problems, researching, and crafting arguments is essential for their cognitive and personal development. Using AI to bypass these steps is like using a calculator to learn basic arithmetic — useful in specific cases but not for foundational learning.
3. Long-Term Impact: Highlight that relying on AI without understanding the underlying concepts will have long-term consequences. They might pass an assignment now, but without a solid grasp of the subject, future challenges will be harder to overcome. Compare it to learning to ride a bike: training wheels (AI) are helpful, but at some point, you have to learn to balance on your own.

Is There a Right Answer?

There may not be a single right answer, but a balanced approach is essential. Encouraging responsible AI use while emphasizing the importance of personal effort and integrity is key.

• Guided Use: Students can use AI to support their learning — perhaps as a tutor to explain concepts or to get feedback on their writing. However, the core of their assignments should be their own work.
• Parental Guidance: As a parent, setting clear boundaries and expectations is crucial. Acknowledge the benefits of AI but emphasize the importance of personal growth and learning through effort and perseverance.

In summary, while AI can be a valuable tool in both business and education, its role and ethical implications differ. Helping kids understand these distinctions will empower them to use AI responsibly, both now and in their future careers.

But … the conversation is evolving. We need to be careful to ensure that we’re transparent about where, how and why we are using AI to augment our efforts in business and build efficiency. 

And, we have to have faith in the example we set (by doing the work) for our kids.