Conversations with Future Generations: AI, Technology, and Trust

In today's rapidly evolving world, it's crucial that we take the time to engage with the younger generation and understand their perspectives on technology, AI, and the digital age. Recently, I had a thought-provoking conversation with my kids and a family friend about AI and Co-Pilots, and I'd like to share some of their insights with you.

Meet the Interviewees:

• Two 17-year-old females, both high-achieving students and exceptional footballers.
• One 8-year-old male, an avid fan of Xbox and football.

What is AI?

The responses varied, highlighting the diverse range of understanding:

• 17-year-old: "It's a computer-generated thing."
• 17-year-old: "What does AI stand for?"
• 8-year-old: "It's a robot."

What is a Co-Pilot?

Interestingly, the term "Co-Pilot" had different interpretations as well:

• 17-year-old: "Heard of it."
• 17-year-old: "Nope."
• 8-year-old: "A person who sits next to the pilot in a plane."

Favourite Tech Gadgets:

Their tech favourites showed a generational shift:

• 17-year-old: "iPhone"
• 17-year-old: "iPhone"
• 8-year-old: "iPad & Xbox"

Favourite Apps:

When it came to apps, the 8-year-old had a quick exit strategy:

• 8-year-old: "YouTube & Facetime"
• (8-year-old leaves to play Xbox)
• 17-year-old: "Snapchat & TikTok, can't live without them."
• 17-year-old: "Same"

Best Thing About Their Favourite Apps:

Connecting with others was a common theme:

• Both 17-year-olds: "Allows you to connect with people all over. Love Snapchat memories, how it shares your memories from a year or two ago."

Views on Robots:

Opinions on robots were divided:

• 17-year-old: "Hate them, makes me sad as they will take people's jobs."
• 17-year-old: "Sick!" (apparently that means Good)

Chatbots and Live Chat Services:

The 17-year-olds preferred human interaction:

• Both 17-year-olds: "Would rather just speak to someone if need help, quicker than typing it all down, they are too general. Hate live chats."

Worries About the Pace of Technology:

Their concerns focused on privacy and trust:

• 17-year-old: "People being able to hack into your stuff."
• 17-year-old: "More lying in society – you can generate voices and pretend to be someone else, lack of trust, and also lack of privacy as everyone films or records everything."

As the conversation continued, the 17-year-olds eventually grew bored and exited the room. This discussion left me pondering some critical questions:

Are We Listening to Our Future Generations?

The worry about robots taking people's jobs is significant, but what struck me the most was their concerns about the rapid pace of technology and the erosion of trust and privacy. Everything is recorded or videoed nowadays, and the ability to generate voices and impersonate others is a concern that reflects a different era from when I was their age.

My husband often remarks on how we managed without mobile phones, relying on payphones for communication. Back then, we had trust. Is technology driving us towards a society lacking in trust, and how will this affect our future generations?

These conversations with our youth are not just thought-provoking but essential. Their insights give us a glimpse into the challenges and opportunities of the digital age. As we navigate the evolving landscape of AI, technology, and privacy, let's remember to include their voices in the conversation. Our future depends on it.