S2 E24: AI: Will Robots Take Over Education?

A couple of years ago, I remember my husband talking about AI and how he was using it to help with his MBA. At the time, it seemed like a fancier version of Grammarly— basically just something he was using to assist with revisions. But within six months, AI had grown by leaps and bounds, and soon I was using it in my own work in education to become more efficient.

Maybe you've already started using AI yourself, or perhaps you're someone who’s been using it for a while now. Whatever your experience, the fact is: AI is here, and it’s here to stay. So, what does this mean for us as parents, and how will it impact our children’s future?

What is AI and How Does It Work?

There are many types of AI out there, and they serve different purposes depending on the tasks they’re designed to perform. Many of them are based on machine learning, meaning that as they receive more data, they adapt and learn to make better predictions and decisions over time. This is why AI seems to get “smarter” the more we use it.

For those of us using AI to streamline our daily tasks, this adaptability can be a huge time-saver.

This summer, I read Co-intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick from the Wharton School of Business. It provided a great overview of AI’s history and offered practical advice for integrating AI into work and life without losing the human touch. As someone who was already experimenting with AI in my job, Mollick’s book gave me even more confidence to see how it could help me be more creative and efficient.

Mollick encourages his students to use AI as a tool to generate better ideas and enhance their creativity. He points out that if we’re not using AI, we risk falling behind those who are. While AI might not directly take over your job, those who use it effectively may become more competitive. It’s a reminder that AI isn’t just a trend—it’s a tool that’s changing how we work, and even how we live.

Mollick’s Four Essential Rules for Using AI

Here are Mollick’s four principles from his book for integrating AI into your life, with my own thoughts provided with each one:

1. Always invite AI to the table. Think of AI as a teammate. Whether it’s ChatGPT or another tool, bring it into discussions. Feed it information, ask questions, and let its feedback push you to think further.
2. Be the human in the loop. AI isn’t human. It doesn’t have emotional connections to situations, so while it may provide useful insights, you’re still the expert. You know the full context and make the final decision.
3. Treat AI like a human. While it’s not alive, treating AI like a person helps. Give it a specific role or mindset when asking it for help. This will lead to more useful and tailored responses.
4. Assume this is the worst AI you’ll ever use. AI is always improving, so what doesn’t work today might work tomorrow. Don’t write it off after a bad experience—keep experimenting, and refine how you communicate with it through prompting and the details you provide.

These principles are a solid starting point for integrating AI into your life. But you’re probably wondering: which of the multitude of tools out there should you be using?

AI Tools for Parents and Educators

As an educator and entrepreneur, I’ve experimented with several AI tools. Here are my top recommendations, based on what I’ve found helpful both professionally and personally:

1. ChatGPT
   This is the classic AI and the base of many others. You can ask it anything—whether it’s for editing, summarizing, or generating creative ideas. I primarily use it as an editor and idea generator when my creativity feels tapped out.
2. SchoolAI
   My school is testing this tool with teachers, and it’s been a game changer. It has pre-made “sidekicks,” like chatbots of historical figures (your child can chat with Harriet Tubman, Napoleon or many others). There are also chatbot tutors and resources for creating worksheets or escape rooms. It’s free for teachers, and I encourage parents to explore it too—after all, as parents, we’re teachers as well!
3. Brisk
   A Chrome extension that helps develop feedback, create documents and presentations. It’s helpful but not as comprehensive as SchoolAI, in my opinion. I'm still learning with all of these, but especially with this one.
4. Magic School AI
   Similar to SchoolAI but with tools like lesson plans and rubrics. This could be great for homeschoolers or those looking to supplement their child’s learning.
5. Diffit
   This tool adjusts text complexity to suit different reading levels. It’s great if you want to simplify a complex article for your child or make something more challenging. It can even do things like take the Constitution and put it at a 3rd grade level.

Personally, for home use, ChatGPT is my go-to. Need rainy day activity ideas for a toddler? Just ask. Want activities that involve fine motor skills? Ask away! It’s faster than scrolling social media—and definitely less distracting!

Will AI Take Over Education?

As AI continues to develop, many wonder whether it will replace teachers or traditional education. Personally, I don’t think AI will ever fully replace human teachers, especially in the elementary years. Learning is a deeply interactive process, and children need to see, mimic, and receive feedback from real humans to learn effectively.

However, in higher grades, AI might play a larger role. But for now, learning how to be human—developing social and emotional skills—is far too important for AI to handle on its own.

Should My Child Use AI?

A common concern among parents is whether children should use AI to enhance their work. Will AI kill creativity? In my experience, AI enhances creativity—it helps generate new ideas and pushes us to think beyond our normal patterns. However, we must teach our children to use it ethically.

If your child’s school has an AI policy, make sure they understand it. If not, talk with them about the importance of integrity. Just as we wouldn’t let them take credit for another person’s work, they shouldn’t claim AI-generated content as their own. To that end, I will confess I use ChatGPT to help me revise and modify my podcast scripts for articles like this one. I create the scripts. but AI helps me transform them into blog posts.

For parents who homeschool, or if your child’s school hasn’t developed a policy yet, I believe allowing children to use AI to refine and develop their ideas is fine, as long as they’re doing the initial work themselves. It’s about teaching them to use AI as a tool, not a crutch.

AI for Parents: What Can You Do?

If you haven’t already, now’s the time to start exploring AI tools. Set up accounts, experiment with what works for you, and think about how AI might help your child as well.

What ways have you used AI? Any tips or experiences you’d like to share? Drop them in the comments—we’re all learning together!

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