CSOM – AI and Young People: A Challenging Opportunity
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of everyday life, for business and for personal use. And one group in particular that is seeing an increase in usage is young people. Whether it’s helping with homework, creating content, searching for information, or simply interacting online, AI tools are increasingly shaping how kids learn, communicate, and make decisions.
And while there’s tremendous opportunity in these technologies, there are also very real concerns around safety, privacy, misinformation, bias, mental health, and digital literacy. The challenge is that innovation is moving much faster than education, policy, or even most parents’ understanding of the technology.
That’s why I was so interested to learn about Common Sense Media’s launch of the Youth AI Safety Institute. It’s an important step toward creating standards, research, and practical guidance around how AI impacts children and teens and how we can ensure these tools are designed and used responsibly.
As communicators, marketers, educators, and parents, we all have a role in helping the next generation navigate this rapidly changing landscape thoughtfully and safely. And that’s exactly what Ilana Lowery, Director of School Partnerships & Policies with Common Sense Media, and I talked about on the recent episode of Copper State of Mind.
The institute was created to provide independent research, establish safety standards, evaluate AI products, and offer practical guidance for families, educators, and technology companies. The goal is simple but significant: ensure that AI systems are designed with the well-being and developmental needs of children in mind. By creating accountability and transparency around youth-focused AI tools, the institute hopes to help bridge the gap between innovation and child safety.
We shouldn’t fear AI or ban it outright. When developed responsibly, AI can enhance learning, improve accessibility, foster creativity, and provide new educational opportunities. The key is creating appropriate guardrails while helping young people develop the skills needed to use these tools effectively. Digital literacy has become a foundational life skill, and AI literacy is quickly following. Teaching children how AI works, how information should be verified, and how technology influences behavior will be just as important as teaching traditional academic subjects.
Technology companies have an important role to play. Safety cannot be an afterthought. Organizations developing AI products should prioritize safety-by-design principles, transparency, robust testing, and privacy protections for younger users. The Youth AI Safety Institute aims to provide independent evaluations and public scorecards that help parents and educators understand whether AI products meet established youth safety standards. Similar to how safety ratings transformed the automotive industry, advocates hope transparent AI safety standards will encourage companies to compete on trust and responsibility rather than engagement alone.
Perhaps the most important takeaway from this conversation is that there must always be a human in the loop. As AI becomes more capable and more accessible, our human qualities remain essential. Critical thinking, creativity, curiosity, and meaningful human connection cannot be outsourced to technology. AI can be a powerful tool, but it should support, not replace, the skills and relationships that help young people thrive. As we continue to navigate this rapidly changing landscape, the responsibility belongs to all of us, including parents, educators, policymakers, communicators, and technology leaders, to ensure that innovation serves and protects the next generation.
Take a listen.
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