Should We ChatGPT?

ChatGPT has taken the world especially the education world by storm. It has left colleges and universities scrambling to stop students from submitting AI generated essays, while companies are racing to integrate the technology to their existing applications and tools. As a language model, parents should be aware that ChatGPT is trained on a wide range of texts from the internet, including texts that may not be suitable for children. Also, the power of thinking, collating, imagining and dreaming of new realities and new avenues of considerations may be adversely affected by this use. So, I place myself in the chair of a modern-day parent rushing from one chore to another, trying to maximize the best for their children and list out the following tangibles.

For Themselves:

1. Apply for Jobs: Many of you are confident about your expertise and suitability for a particular role but struggle to communicate that in a crisp manner while you write your cover letter. You can tell ChatGPT the job that you are applying for, paste your work experience and receive a draft cover letter in about 10 seconds. But do remember it will not be very ‘warm’ like you wanted, so definitely read through and make it a tad personal with specifics included.
2. Outsourcing Thinking: It is a great tool to brainstorm ideas. How to make the birthday party for your child ecofriendly? Ask the question and you will be provided with ideas that could help you generate better ideas. You could even ask for various holiday itineraries, by placing your choices from a beach holiday to an animal safari. ChatGPT would provide travel times, sights to see, amenities available etc. Imagine if you just said, ‘I am taking a family of 4 to Sikkim and our budget is xxx’, and it spits out a reasonable plan in 10 seconds, how convenient that would be. Also, it would probably make Google obsolete and you no longer need to surf through multiple websites and blogs to find something that suits you.

For Children:

1. Online Safety: As parents your guidance regarding online safety is foremost. Make your child aware of what it means to be cautious about the information they share with others and to be aware of online predators and cyberbullying. Limiting screentime and monitoring screentime activity is very essential.
2. Parent Presence: With any technology especially something as new and as powerful as ChatGPT, you should be the one introducing your child to it and setting out the limitations of the model. Discussions should take place in your presence so that you can monitor the conversation and highlight the risks. Remember this is not policing but creating a safety net for the young so that they are not misguided and abused.
3. Limitations of the Model: Parents should definitely highlight how this is only a machine learning model sans emotions, ethical considerations, common sense and critical thinking. ChatGPT only responds to questions based on the information it has been trained on and may not always be accurate or appropriate. Children should be taught to question the sources of information that has been generated and also evaluate the credibility of the same. Verification of response is mandatory for all, especially children who in many cases are under the misconception that whatever technology provides is infallible.
4. Positives: Parents should not fight the new technology as our journey will be further fraught with such innovations that children will be forever exposed to. This is their new world; their new realities and we cannot like an ostrich bury our heads into a quagmire of our truths alone. So parents need to encourage children to use it in a positive and productive way. Sit beside them and work along with them to highlight how possibilities provided by this tool can further titillate their imagination to produce more effective and meaningful responses. Personalizing of information is the key to handling this tool successfully and productively. The personal touch and one’s unique imagination cannot be sacrificed at the altar of a mechanized tool.

So, parents, another milestone to set and another 21^st century innovation to master. But together we can. We have to ensure that our children have a beneficial and a safe experience with ChatGPT. Being open-minded and gaining knowledge about the novelty behind this technology is what parents should aim for. There is a plethora of positives that can be unearth but only if we collaborate on this journey and not play an adversary to what AI has to offer. And who knows what more is to come. The cards are on your side of the table, parents. Do not let this opportunity go by.

Author – Sudeshna Sengupta, Director, Academics, Vedanya International School

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