What is AI? 

AI stands for artificial intelligence. And who is better placed to explain AI than ChatGPT itself?  
Here is what the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT has to say:  

"Imagine having a conversation with someone who is always available, ready to answer questions, offer suggestions, and even help solve complex problems. That’s me—an example of artificial intelligence, or AI. While I’m not a human being, I’m designed to communicate and learn in ways similar to humans. My “brain” consists of complex algorithms that allow me to understand, analyse, and apply information. My goal is to provide useful insights, simplify tasks, and make everyday life a little easier. AI like me is constantly evolving, and with every interaction, I learn more to assist you even better."

AI is everywhere: get to know it instead of avoiding it 

AI is indeed evolving all the time. It’s already in the emergency brake of your car, the timer on your coffee machine, and so much more. AI is in far more places than we realise, and it’s here to stay. We can’t keep young people away from it either. Children and young people encounter it in TikTok’s algorithms and as a “friend” on Snapchat under the name “MyAI”. So instead of avoiding it, it’s important to get to know it. 

It is essential to teach children and young people to look critically at the answers ChatGPT provides – or any other AI chatbot or similar AI feature generating information summaries, such as Google AI overview – and understand where the information comes from. AI is actively learning new information, but only based on the data that we (humans) feed it. It’s very far from being impartial or all-knowing. It also has no feelings or empathy, like humans, and can sometimes say things that don’t make a lot of sense.  

For any adult, whether it’s a parent, caregiver, teacher, educator, youth worker or just a person of trust, it’s important to be a listening ear for children and young people, and support them in exploring the fascinating world of AI together. 

Find more information about the work of the Belgian Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.