Raising Kids in the Age of AI: Trusting God with an Uncertain Future
It feels heavy when I think of the future world that my kids will be living in. Maybe it’s always been heavy; but I’m just growing up.
Earlier this week Michael and I were talking about the future of the US dollar and its influence in the global economy – will it ever be so strong again? Will gold take over? Or something else? When should we buy a house to diversify assets?
Then there is AI and talk of educational bots that help tutor children. Then, eventually, we’ll all have access to a personal assistant that becomes so in tune with who you are that we’ll start to rely on its “wisdom” more than our own intuition.
What about cars? The shift to electric, yes, we are cool with that, great! But what about cars that drive themselves? Automated roads? Automated everything.
What about the environmental impact and the use of water to cool down the massive systems?
What about when AI becomes so intelligent that it surpasses human knowledge and when all attempts at safeguarding against a takeover fail? What about humanity?
When questions like these thicken the air, I wonder how to raise my girls to prepare them for a world that is rapidly changing. What foundational bits should we be focusing our limited time on?
I’d like them to be optimistic about the future, I’d like them to see the beauty in this world and to revel in the unique qualities of people, places, and cultures. I’d like for them to hold strong biblical values and to be certain of their identity as daughters of God. Loved. Cherished. And here for a purpose.
I don’t want them to fear the future but rather to confidently walk into each day knowing that they are capable learners. I want them to know the power that comes from placing their faith in God’s sovereignty. That there is peace in trusting in Jesus even when we don’t know everything.
I’m starting to think that with the advent of AI, more people will struggle with their identity and purpose than ever before. A person’s character, values, creativity, and joy are at risk of being conformed to a new pattern of life that relies on a false sense of self, and fully on artificial intelligence.
No, my girls will not get lost in the fog. I’m determined to teach my girls how to discern what is real, and what is not. How to think critically, resolve conflict, and enjoy life with their little bodies that are made to run, jump, and play.
Rather than get stuck in the uncertainty of it all, I’ve decided to open my heart and mind to God’s leading. He is not surprised by any of this. And the bible has already told us what to do. To remember who God is. To memorize scripture, to pass it down through the generations, and to trust and obey.
My job isn’t to come up with some big plan to keep my girls safe from things I can’t control, or to let my mind spiral with all the “what ifs” of a world that has historically spun wild in all generations. My job is to focus on small things.
Their foundation is set in the sense of adventure they feel when the ocean waves push them around and they discover that they can get up and run right back in, or the wonder they experience in knocking down a spider from its web and try to find it food for the day.
It’s the tiny, frustrating, moments, when they ask “why,” to nearly everything. Because engaging those questions can lead to deeper conversations about the way the world works. It teaches them how to see God’s presence in all things.
What a relief, really. That I can make a difference in the diligent task of being present, admitting my mistakes, and leading our littles into a life filled with adventure even when it feels scary.
I know that many of you reading this are either in the same spot as me or perhaps a few years ahead. I would love to consider your thoughts – what would you focus on training your kids on knowing that the future will look nothing like it does today?
What are some ways we can prepare the next generation?