Who Is AI? — A Morning Question from My 7-Year-Old

Who is Ai? My 7-year-old son asked! It was so early in the morning when he woke up with his curious face to such a question, and I was wondering where he learned about AI.

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This happened last month, and I remember making a thread about it on InLeo. The thread got so many engagements; people were airing their opinions on how I can reply to him considering his age.

The truth is that I wasn't expecting such a question from him then, and all I could reply to him was that I will get back to him, and then I put up the thread immediately.

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After getting some fun responses on the chain, I went back to my son to really ask him where he heard about AI, and he mentioned that his computer teacher told them that AI can talk like a human being.

You know, being a mom also means that you are a teacher and lecturer, lol. I was thinking of the best way to quench his curiosity over this question, but this particular reply on the thread above came to my rescue.

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Taking a deep breath, I replied to him that AI is just like a computer, although not a human being, but can understand your questions and reply to you accordingly. I added that he can chat with AI just the way I chat with my friends using my phone. He asked further a very weird question, lol: Can AI eat jollof rice? Hahaha, it is finished. I wanted to overlook that, but then I reminded him that AI is not a human being, but with the help of the Internet, it can help you solve problems but will never eat.

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Ever since that day, my son has been communicating with Meta AI via my WhatsApp. Once my phone is less busy, he will start sending Ai different questions for clarification. I read one of his questions to AI, including his voice question to it, and I was baffled, honestly. What I love most about his interactions with AI is that he studies all the information that the AI gives him, and he will come to teach me that. I see it as an extra kind of knowledge or research that he is doing with AI; it's all good, right?

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This little experience reminded me how far our world has grown and keeps changing. Children are now exposed to this tech era so fast. During my own time back then, the use of a desktop computer was a big challenge, not to mention interacting with AI. But then, the new reality is that technology has come to stay, and the younger generations can't do without it; however, it's my work as a parent to ensure they use it responsibly.

Again, some questions from children shouldn't be seen as fun or unserious. My son was simply curious, and with patience and wisdom, I have been trying to nurture his curious mind for a positive result.

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Finally , I told him that Ai is never a human being but a machine created to help people smartly in doing their work . He was like wow, can AI help me do all my homework ? Hahaha, at this point, I paused from replying him until further notice 😃.

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