Youth Voices: What It’s Really Like to Grow Up With AI
Today‘s youth are actively engaging with artificial intelligence (AI) in their everyday lives. From classrooms, creative spaces to social media feeds, children are thinking critically about what that means and asking meaningful questions about ethics, privacy, creativity, and power.
At PACT, we actively engage youth through our summer internships and Youth Council, creating space for them to share their insight and experiences. Their feedback informs our curricula, public awareness campaigns, and efforts to promote responsible technology use.
Hear directly from youth as they share their honest perspectives, capturing not only the skepticism and excitement of emerging technologies, but the responsibility we all share to use them thoughtfully and ethically.
“What excites me the most is the potential for AI to help in the medical field and make things easier in that aspect…If we start learning skills that AI can’t replace, we will be okay. My message is that don’t compete with AI, but rather learn how to work with it. Keep your creativity, your voice, and your emotions. That’s something a machine can’t replace.”
“AI in the military has changed over the years. It has helped develop new technology that has advanced our country..So, why should the youth care? Because we are the generation that will either build these systems, work with them, or be affected by them. Many of us are thinking about careers in tech, computer science, or engineering fields that are deeply connected to how AI develops.”
“I had only ever heard of advanced AI within the context of science fiction and couldn't believe it actually existed at first. Yet, the more I learned about it, the more I began to despise it…The ease of using AI to create art, videos, and even video games without any real talent has led to people to create low effort slop that floods people’s feeds for a quick buck, burying content from creators who put in actual care.”
“While AI can be helpful, it also brings challenges — like lack of independence, privacy risks, and shifts in how teens think and interact. As this technology continues to grow, it’s important for teens, parents, and educators to stay informed, set healthy boundaries, and make sure AI is used as a tool — not a replacement — for real thinking, learning, and connection.”
“As someone who often uses AI and has friends who use it too, I’ve seen it become the deciding factor in most situations for people…I know AI is smart, but I don’t think it could give the same advice or insight that a person could. I don’t think I could trust AI to help me decide on a major life decision, because what if it gives me the wrong advice, and my situation becomes worse.”
“Being fed answers from a machine doesn’t actually enlighten you, especially when you remove yourself from the equation completely and leave AI to carry out the task…Therefore, is having so much access to information really helpful?”
Resources for youth:
Complete the Social Identity Quest to learn more about online safety.
Sign up for future updates about joining PACT’s Youth Council.
Read other youth perspectives like What Safety Feels Like Through Their Eyes, Lessons Learned from Survivors, A Guide to Staying Grounded Online, and Protecting Children in a Digital World.