AI and Children: What Parents Should Know

Birmingham, Ala. (Sept. 8, 2026) — Artificial intelligence (AI) can be seen in several aspects of our lives. It is also playing a significant role in our children's lives. From education to creative apps to conversational tools, AI is everywhere and keeps expanding.

So, what is artificial intelligence? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, AI is modeled on the human brain-how we gather facts, descriptions, comments, images, and more.

“It relies on a huge amount of data and interaction with an individual so that the more a person interacts with AI, it actually, in a sense, kind of learns and can anticipate and tailor responses,” said Dr. Dan Marullo, a pediatric psychologist at Children’s of Alabama.

Pew Research notes that 64% of teenagers in the United States aged 13 to 17 use AI chatbots.  In a study released by Common Sense Media’s Youth AI Safety Institute, 70% of teens aged 13 to 17 said they are using AI for schoolwork.

“AI can be beneficial in terms of some educational applications, but it can also be detrimental,” said Marullo.

Marullo adds that AI can help children with learning. He says some studies suggest it can help children with language skills and some aspects of socialization. But alongside the benefits, parents should be aware of some risks.  Marullo presented an example of a child who relies solely on AI to produce written content. He says that using AI to do research, evaluate, organize, and synthesize information into a written product prevents the child from developing organizational and critical-thinking skills. He also says one of the biggest concerns is that children can’t always tell what genuine content is and what might be generated.

“AI is notorious for producing material that is very confident in its responses, even when it is actually very wrong,” said Marullo. “So, without those critical thinking skills, children can sometimes be easily fooled or misled by the kind of information they receive.”

Marullo says other aspects of AI can be concerning.  AI can produce images of people with unrealistic physical attributes, and this could lead to body image concerns for children. AI can also keep children from having real interactions with people.

“If you are spending time online interacting with chatbots, you are not interacting with people, and so the ability to learn and gain social skills can be impaired,” said Marullo.

Marullo says parents should also be aware of some of the health risks associated with AI. Disrupted sleep that comes from children staying up late at night on social media, mindless snacking that could lead to obesity, and there are some indications of higher anxiety, depression, attention-deficit, and other psychological disorders. Marullo says parents should be concerned when they see a distinct and persistent change in their child’s behavior, such as being sleep-deprived, a drop in grades, or an increased online presence.  Marullo recommends parents act before this happens.

“The most important thing is monitoring, setting rules and having realistic consequences when those rules are crossed,” said Marullo. “It is important to have good boundaries and limits on AI, as with any social media.”

Marullo reminds parents that they must also model good behavior. He says children also pay close attention to what their parents do, and this could be critical to helping them understand how to use AI responsibly. He recommends that parents teach their children to be critical of the content they encounter and to question the validity of what they watch or interact with. Also, have an honest conversation with your child about what AI is and the risks it poses.

“Parents should help their children understand that these programs are designed to capture your attention and to keep you engaged,” said Marullo.

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