Our last post (March 1, 2025) looked at how artificial intelligence (AI) can be an aid in grandparenting. This post considers the downside of this new technology.
Every new technology has unforeseen effects that are both good and bad. Radio and television both improved the speed of communication but also increased isolation. The automobile made transportation faster and more economical but also increased accidents and deaths. Similar things could be said about computers, the internet, and nuclear power. AI is bound to do the same. There will be unforeseen effects.
Ask any artificial intelligence engine what the downside of artificial intelligence is and you will get a relatively honest answer. The AI engine consults the data that exists on the internet and, based on its search algorithms, will give you an answer. (The answer will be biased simply because the data on the internet is biased toward the western, English speaking world.)
I asked Chatbot GPT, an AI engine1, “What are the main concerns regarding AI?” Its answer was very long but here is the gist of it:
- AI generated automation will spur job losses.
- Privacy violations: “Big Brother” will know even more about you and your family!
- The ethical implications of AI’s influence on human beings. We might describe it as increased temptation and ease in sinning.
- Deepfakes create false content that is very difficult to distinguish from true content.
I then asked Microsoft Copilot, another AI engine, “When will AI become self-aware and potentially all-knowing and all-powerful?” It replied, “Researchers have developed a checklist of 14 properties to identify potential AI consciousness. Some experts, such as Sam Altman of OpenAI, suggest AI could achieve self-awareness within four years, while others estimate a 20% chance of conscious AI emerging in the next decade.
Next I asked Perplexity, “What are the main concerns about the effects of AI on youth?” It answered that invasion of privacy was a top worry. A further cause of anxiety was the fact that youth are creating AI generated deepfake images of classmates to use in shaming them (commonly called cyberbullying). The New York Times reported on an epidemic of deepfake nudes.
In addition, as of February 2024, 86% of students use AI in their studies. AI’s ability to quickly create content is demotivating young people from putting effort into the disciplines of learning on their own and the ability to think clearly. Today’s students can have any paper they write grammatically corrected by AI and never learn the proper use of a comma.
AI also increases screen dependence and addiction among teens, making the digital world more alluring than real life. Most teens do not believe AI will negatively impact their mental health. Most educators disagree.
Finally, I asked Gemini, yet another AI engine, what grandparents should be concerned about regarding AI. Gemini answered with the following as a top concern: Grandparents need to be aware of AI-enabled impersonation scams. Criminals are using AI to clone voices with startling accuracy, potentially tricking grandparents into believing they’re communicating with their grandchildren.
What is a grandparent to do? Whenever possible choose to spend quality time, in-person and face to face, with your grandchildren. Good human beings result from being influenced by good human beings.
1 Increase your vocabulary
AI generators include: Chat GPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot.
Deepfake image creators include: Craiyon, Midjourney, Nightcafe, Starry AI, and Pixray.
Mike Shaughnessy, Founder of Grandly
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