A parent’s guide to AI in education

Jane Rosenzweig, director of the Harvard College Writing Center and parent of a high schooler, starts her classes on AI with a simple challenge: Explain how it works to the audience of your choice.

Her point? Before students can decide when and how to use AI, they need to know what it does. “Writing is hard, because thinking is hard,” says Rosenzweig, who regularly writes about generative AI. And for many students, AI feels like an easy fix—but in practice, it often weakens their work.

Experts say that’s exactly where parents can step in. Here are five ways to guide your kids about using AI in school.

1. AI isn’t thinking. It’s predicting.

No matter how convincing it sounds, AI systems aren’t reasoning like a human would. AI predicts the next word based on patterns from billions of human-written texts, many of them biased, inaccurate or shallow. That’s why AI often produces mistakes or what researchers call “hallucinations.”

That’s also why it’s important to explain to kids that AI is less like a teacher and more like a recommendation engine or algorithm. It’s producing results based on patterns and behavior, which can sometimes be biased or just wrong.

Try this: Ask your child to check two other sources anytime they use AI for homework. Teach them to ask: “Do I trust this? And why?”

2. Students are aware of the downsides, too. Lean into it.

AI in education can be marketed to kids as a shortcut to better grades. Teachers, meanwhile, can be told it will enhance learning. The result is a mixed message.

But here’s what the research says:

• A recent survey found that high school students like AI in education for brainstorming and organizing ideas. But many said their work became generic or less original when they relied on it too much.

• Only 18% of teens think it’s acceptable to let AI write an essay, because they know it weakens their work, according to a study on teens using AI for schoolwork.  

Students know that AI can decrease the quality of their work. That’s a powerful place to start the conversation.

Try this: As a parent, you can help your child recognize the difference between writing that reveals their voice and writing that doesn’t. To do that, ask questions like:

• “Which parts of this assignment should sound most like you?”

• “Where could AI help you get started, without taking over?”

3. Help kids understand the point of their assignments.

“When students don’t get the point of doing a writing assignment, they’re much more likely to want to outsource it,” says Rosenzweig.

Studies about AI in schools back her up. For example, one recent study found that students specifically said they don’t want to use AI for college essays. They know those essays need to be authentic, and they want the accomplishment of writing them themselves.

For parents, this means that helping kids connect their schoolwork to real-world skills and interests can also help them understand the appropriate uses for AI in education.

Try this: Ask questions like:

• “How could you use what you’re learning in class outside of school?”

• “What new ideas or perspectives can you bring to this assignment?”

4. Treat AI like a life skill, not a homework hack.

Research finds that many kids use AI in schools for connection, comfort and conversation, sometimes instead of asking adults tough questions. That’s why experts say conversations about AI between parents and kids shouldn’t be a one-off tech lecture. They belong in the same category as ongoing conversations about friendships, online safety and values.

Try this: Make space for casual check-ins and ask:

• “Has AI ever given you advice you weren’t sure about?” 

• “Would you trust AI with something personal?” 

It’s important for kids to know that generative AI isn’t magic or a one-stop solution for challenges at school. But Rosenzweig says it’s important to support kids in recognizing the power of their own voice and creativity.

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