Kids Are Using AI — So Let’s Teach Them to Do It Right

Let’s be honest, if AI had existed when we were in high school, we probably would’ve asked it to write our book reports and called it a day. But this generation? They’re growing up in a world where tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Microsoft Copilot are just part of the landscape.

I’m a Toronto dad of two teenage boys, and I’m all for them using AI, not to cheat, but to learn. Here’s why shying away from AI in schools might actually do more harm than good, and why it’s time for parents and educators to rethink the “AI is bad” narrative.

AI Isn’t Cheating — It’s the New Calculator

Remember when teachers flipped out about calculators in math class? Fast forward a few decades, and calculators are now required in most courses. Why? Because we realized it wasn’t about doing math by hand — it was about understanding how math works and when to apply it.

Same goes for AI. It’s a tool. A powerful one, yes, but still just a tool.

I’ve been suggesting ChatGPT to my oldest son to help with schoolwork he’s struggling with. Not to do the work for him, but to help him understand it. But the immediate pushback from him? The school or teachers don’t want them using AI at all.

I get it — we don’t want kids blindly relying on AI. But what if what the teacher is saying just isn’t landing? It’s the night before a big exam, your kid is stressed to the max, and you’re not a calculus major. Why not turn to another voice?

To me, that’s not cheating — that’s smart learning.

AI Isn’t Going Anywhere

I know a lot of people are worried about AI taking over our jobs (myself included), but here’s the deal: it’s not going away. In fact, we are only at the beginning, and those who don’t start using AI will be the ones left behind. That’s why we should be introducing AI to students as a positive, productive tool, not just as something that makes cheating easier.

How Teens Are Probably Using AI Right Now

• Copy-pasting entire homework questions into ChatGPT just to see if it can save them the effort of opening a textbook, then handing it in as-is unless it “sounds too suspiciously smart.”
• Asking it to write the intro paragraph for their essay because they’d rather chew drywall than start writing from scratch.
• Telling it to summarize a book they were supposed to read two weeks ago — not because they forgot, but because they never intended to read it in the first place.
• Asking it to help them write a passive-aggressive email to a teacher (and then deciding not to send it, thankfully).
• Using it to explain math they swear they “used to know,” usually at 10:37 p.m. the night before the test.
• Trying to make it generate a funny insult about their sibling, a teacher, or the Toronto Maple Leafs.
• Asking it for “quick facts” to fill word count on an assignment because, let’s be honest, they’ve already hit the mental eject button.
• Using it mid-video game to find a shortcut or cheat code, then calling it “research.”
• Saying they’re using it for school while secretly trying to get it to write a rap about poop. (And somehow? It still rhymes.)

Look, it’s not always productive. It’s not always academic. But it is how they’re getting comfortable with a tool that’s going to shape their future.

My job isn’t to pretend they’re using AI like model students in a brochure. It’s to help them understand what it’s good for, when to question it, and how to use it smarter next time.

Because if they’re going to mess around with AI anyway — and they are — I’d rather be in the loop than out of it.

How Teens Could Use AI for Learning

Here are just a few ways AI can support kids’ education — not replace it:

• Brainstorming ideas for school projects or essays
• Summarizing research to save time on reading (yes, they still need to dive into sources)
• Explaining tricky concepts when a textbook or teacher isn’t clicking
• Practicing presentations by testing outlines and getting feedback
• Planning study schedules when exam panic starts to kick in

Now, I know one of the first pushbacks here will be: “Save time on reading?” Look, I get it — we want our kids to actually read. But let’s be real: to many teens, “reading” is whatever pops up on their phones. If they’re spending even some of that time using AI to understand a topic better? I’ll take it.

The key is supervision, intention, and reflection. My kids know AI isn’t magic. They know it can be wrong. But they also know how to use it critically — and that’s the skill that matters most.

Here in Canada, many school boards are still figuring out how to handle AI tools like ChatGPT, with mixed reactions so far. From talking to my kids about AI at school, it seems to come down to who their teacher is and what their beliefs are.

What Are We Really Afraid Of?

In my opinion, the real fear isn’t that kids are using AI — it’s that they might use it instead of thinking. But let’s be honest: adults are already doing this more than we want to admit.

AI is still new to most of us. We’re all learning on the fly how to properly use one of the most powerful tools ever created. And that’s okay.

If a chatbot can spit out a standard five-paragraph essay, maybe the issue isn’t the kid — maybe it’s the assignment. Let’s push for deeper thinking, stronger questions, and collaborative tools. That includes AI.

AI Is Part of Their Future — Like It or Not

Whether our kids end up in marketing, engineering, law, medicine, or launching some startup we haven’t dreamed up yet, AI will be part of it.

Denying them the chance to explore AI now is like telling them not to use the internet until they’re 25. It just doesn’t make sense.

Parents — remember how wild and addictive the early internet felt? Multiply that by a million. That’s where we are with AI.

Instead of fear, we should focus on guidance:

• Show them how to fact-check AI responses
• Talk about bias and ethics in algorithms
• Teach them how to prompt creatively and ask better questions
• Encourage them to add their own voice to AI-assisted work

The Takeaway: Teach, Don’t Limit

I’m not saying AI should be a crutch. I’m saying it should be treated like any other tool that helps kids explore, learn, and grow.

If we teach our teens to use AI with intention and integrity, we’re not “making it too easy.” We’re making them future-ready.

So yes — I want my kids to use AI. And honestly? I can’t wait to see what they do with it.

Let’s Talk About It

I get that this is a topic that gets people fired up. Some parents think AI is the beginning of the end for education. Some think it’s the next great leap forward. Teachers are under pressure, kids are overwhelmed, and most of us are just trying to keep up with a technology that evolves faster than our school policies can even blink.

This isn’t about replacing learning. It’s about expanding it.

It’s easy to panic about what we don’t fully understand (and I’ve definitely had my moments). But I’d rather help guide my boys through this AI moment with open eyes and open minds than bury my head in the sand and pretend it’s someone else’s problem to solve.

So yeah — I know not everyone will agree with my take. And that’s okay. Honestly, I’d be surprised if everyone did.

But we all want the same thing, right? We want to raise kids who can think for themselves, adapt to change, and still find their own voice in the noise. If AI can help with that, then I think it deserves a place at the dinner table.

Let me know what you think. Whether you’re a fellow parent, a teacher, a student, or just someone watching this unfold, I’d love to hear where you’re at with all of it. Are your kids using AI? Should they be? Where do we draw the line, and how do we teach them to use it well?

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