Entrepreneurs understand that AI is already shaping the next generation’s future workplace. Nearly half of generation alpha kids are using AI tools, according to Hosting Advice, who surveyed parents of kids aged 7-14 to explore how AI is now part of their childrens’ development journey.
Boys lead the charge at 54% compared to girls at 45%. Usage jumps to 60% by ages 13-14. Parents are split on homework help, with 20% allowing AI use while 40% see it as cheating. But overall support is strong at 54%, with fathers more supportive (66%) than mothers (47%).
The future belongs to those who understand AI. Just as business leaders have mastered these tools to stay competitive in business, children will need this knowledge to thrive in their future careers. Here’s how to give your kids the edge they need.
6 ways to raise future-ready children (develop their proficiency now)
Don’t just ban the tools
Schools are playing defense. They’re banning ChatGPT and fighting a losing battle. But smart parents know better. Every future career will use AI tools. Getting comfortable with them now gives kids an advantage.
Don’t let short-sighted policies hold your children back. Their future employers won’t ban AI tools, so why should their schools? Tomorrow’s entrepreneurs will need to be AI-native from day one.
Show them how AI thinks
Kids are curious about how things work. Explain that large language models (LLMs) learn from internet data and predict what comes next. Show them how changing prompts creates different results. Make it a game of exploration and discovery.
Understanding AI’s capabilities and limitations is crucial for future business leaders. Get them to quiz ChatGPT about how it works. Let them see the machine in action. Soon they’ll be teaching you new tricks.
Make prompting fun
Turn AI into a puzzle. Help them experiment with different prompts and see what happens. Writing a poem, describing a scene including their favourite character, or suggesting how they spend their day. The better the prompt, the better the result. Watch their motivation grow as they master the art of talking to AI.
Success breeds confidence. Confidence breeds mastery and enthusiasm. Before long they’ll be writing prompts better than you. A creative, problem-solving mindset is exactly what future founders need.
Give them real problems to solve
Abstract learning bores kids. Give them concrete challenges instead. Let them use AI to plan the perfect argument for a pocket money raise or a new toy. Draft a proposal for that theme park trip they want. Solve real problems that matter to them.
Negotiation and persuasion skills are the foundation of entrepreneurial thinking, but they’ll learn faster when the stakes feel real. Nothing motivates like getting what you want.
Creators beat consumers
Show them the difference between making and taking. Anyone can scroll TikTok for hours. Winners learn to create content that others consume. The same goes for AI. Don’t just use it. Learn to control it. Build with it. Shape it to serve your goals.
The next generation of creators will use AI by default, and the most successful startups will be built by those who learned it early. Create with the tools, don’t just consume.
Teach healthy skepticism
The internet is full of fakes and AI makes them harder to spot. Teach your kids about voice cloning and deepfakes. Show them how to question everything they see online. Make them scam-proof by showing them how anyone can be tricked.
Knowledge is their best defense, and street smarts beat book smarts every time. Commercial awareness and technological awareness can go hand in hand.
Help your kids learn ChatGPT (and other AI tools)
Start small but start now. Guide your kids through the AI revolution one prompt at a time. They’ll thank you when they’re leagues ahead of their classmates. They’ll thank you again when they’re running an AI empire.
As with every technological advancement that the world has ever seen, the future belongs to those who understand these tools. Make sure your children are ready for it.
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