Don’t Ask What AI Can Do for You, Ask What You Can Do for AI

Introduction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the world, automating processes and making tasks that seemed unimaginable just a few years ago. But amidst this rapid advancement, a crucial question arises: are we merely passive beneficiaries, or can we take on a more active role in this transformation?

The phrase “don’t ask what AI can do for you, ask what you can do for AI” encourages reflection on our responsibility as creators, users and educators in the evolution of these technologies. Not only do we use AI, but we also influence its development, particularly in key areas like education and its impact on young people, who hold the potential to shape the future of this technology.

1. The Traditional Role: AI at the Service of Humanity

From its inception, AI has been designed to make human life easier. Virtual assistants answer our questions, recommendation algorithms suggest music, shows and products we might like, and predictive models in healthcare save lives by detecting diseases in their early stages.

In education, AI is transforming how we learn, offering solutions ranging from platforms that tailor lessons to the pace and needs of each student to analytics systems that identify individual strengths and weaknesses to optimize learning outcomes.

However, this approach positions us as passive recipients of its benefits. Given that the data we generate forms the foundation of AI’s learning, shouldn’t we participate actively to ensure that these systems are inclusive, ethical, and beneficial for everyone?

2. The Human Role in Developing AI

AI is not an independent entity, it feeds on the decisions and data we provide. Every interaction with a digital platform may contribute to the training of these systems. Yet, this relationship is far from neutral. Biases in data or algorithm design can lead to systems that discriminate or perpetuate inequalities.

In education, for instance, the design of adaptive learning systems must account for diverse contexts to avoid excluding specific groups. Young people, as primary users of these technologies, have the opportunity to influence their development by questioning and understanding how they work.

Furthermore, educating new generations on the principles of AI fosters a critical mindset that empowers students to become active contributors rather than passive consumers. This includes teaching them about ethics, algorithms and data privacy.

3. What Can You, Young People, and Education Do for AI?

Adopting an active role doesn’t require being a programmer or scientist but rather making conscious decisions and seizing educational opportunities to influence AI’s development. Key actions include:

• Incorporating AI into school curriculums: it’s essential to introduce subjects that teach programming, machine learning and the ethical implications of AI. This way, young people will not only use the technology but also learn to create and critically evaluate it.
• Participating in technology projects: students can engage in AI projects through accessible platforms or beginner-friendly machine learning tools.
• Promoting diversity and equity: it is crucial to foster inclusion in AI development by incorporating perspectives from different cultures and social realities to avoid biases in systems.
• Being critical of data use: both young people and adults should learn to share information responsibly, understanding how their data contributes to the development of technology.

4. Benefits of Active Human-AI Collaboration in Education and Society

When humans actively participate in designing and using AI, the benefits are huge:

• Personalized and accessible learning: ethically developed AI can provide quality education to students worldwide, tailored to individual needs.
• Preparation for the future workforce: understanding how AI works equips young people to anticipate a labor market that is increasingly automated and dynamic.
• A more equitable society: ensuring that data and algorithms are inclusive enables us to build technologies that reflect values of fairness and equity.
• Ethical technology: an informed society can demand accountability from tech companies and promote transparency in AI usage.

Conclusion

AI is not an isolated entity but a tool shaped by the decisions, data and values we contribute. Young people and education play an essential role in this process, becoming key to designing a future where technology benefits all humanity.

Asking what we can do for AI is not just a shift in perspective but an invitation to take action: to learn, to teach and to actively participate in its evolution. The future of AI doesn’t depend solely on algorithms but on how we choose to contribute to reflecting our humanity within them.

An article inspired by Javier Piay