The Age of AI: Navigating AI’s Risks and Benefits for Youth

In-person at the Gifford School

177 Boston Post Rd, Weston, MA

With Kaitlin Tiches, MLIS Medical Librarian & Knowledge Manager Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital

Explore young people’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) applications including smart speakers and generative AI tools like chatbots. This presentation will provide an overview of how young people are engaging with AI technologies for both education and entertainment. Additionally, this presentation will provide an overview of both the risks present and the potential benefits of young people’s engagement with these technologies. Attendees will learn strategies for parents and caregivers to make decisions about if, how, and/or when these tools should be used in ways that promote digital wellbeing for their child(ren). Attendees will also be introduced to critical thinking questions for assessing risks and benefits of existing and new technologies that young people may be likely to adopt.

Learning Objectives:

Learn strategies for navigating how to set expectations and rules for young people’s use of AI, and discussion starters for having conversations about these technologies with older children and adolescents.

Understand the rapidly changing landscape of AI tools used by young people and trends in use. 

Learn about common risks and opportunities of young people’s use of AI technologies.

Explore techniques to evaluate the costs and benefits of a young person engaging with different AI technologies to make informed decisions about what type of use will most support their digital wellbeing.

About the presenter: Kaitlin Tiches is the Medical Librarian & Knowledge Manager at the Digital Wellness Lab, where she is responsible for maintaining the Lab’s knowledge base about the positive and negative effects of media and technology on young people’s health. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Individual Concentration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Kaitlin has held a variety of positions, including work as a biology and chemistry research assistant and analyst. Her deep interest in the connections between education, research, and information literacy led Kaitlin to pursue a Masters in Library and Information Sciences from Simmons University and a professional shift to K-12 education. Prior to joining the team at Boston Children’s Hospital, Kaitlin was a teacher and a high school Library Media Specialist.