By Hemala Devaraj and Desiree Kaur
What if your child:
- Became the victim of deepfake explicit content?
- Was targeted by AI-powered scams on social media?
- Ended up with their voice cloned, or their identity manipulated?
Even without malicious intent, AI-driven platforms and algorithms can influence children’s behavior and development, making them more vulnerable to addiction. Understanding AI helps children question it, use it safely, and navigate the digital world wisely.
Talking to Children at Different Ages About AI
While schools and policies play a role, a child’s relationship with AI is shaped at home: during car rides, while doing homework, or in casual conversations before bedtime. The goal isn’t to raise children who fear AI, but children who know how to question and use it wisely.
Keep explanations simple and playful. AI can be described as a computer that learns from people. It doesn’t have feelings and doesn’t think like humans do.
Conversation starters:
“Can a computer think like you?”
“Who teaches the computer what to say?” “Can a robot feel happy or sad?”
Key message: AI can help, but humans still make the best choices.
Watch out for: Children believing AI is a real “friend” or knows secrets.
Children at this age enjoy facts and rules—perfect for introducing critical thinking. Explain that AI gets information from the internet, and not everything online is correct.
Conversation starters:
“How can we check if an AI answer is true?”
“Would you trust AI more than your teacher?”
Key message: Smart users ask questions, even when a computer sounds confident.
Watch out for: Copying AI answers directly into schoolwork.
Older children are ready to talk about responsibility and ethics. They can understand that AI learns from humans including mistakes and bias. Using AI to support learning is different from letting it do the work.
Conversation starters:
“Is it cheating if AI writes your homework?”
“When is AI helpful, and when does it make us lazy?”
Key message: AI is a tool, not a shortcut or replacement for thinking.
Watch out for: Over-reliance on AI, sharing personal information, or late-night use without limits.
It’s Not Just ChatGPT and Gemini
There is no doubt, AI is already shaping the way children think, learn and interact today and most often without parents realising it.
As Darmain Segaran, AI Policy Manager at Malaysia’s National AI Office (NAIO), explains:
“While there is a definite increase in generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, for most children, AI is experienced indirectly through systems that filter, score, and recommend content in real time.”
National AI Office (NAIO) in shaping responsible and trustworthy AI development nationwide.
Whether it’s the next video in a feed, a game that adapts to their skill level, or feedback generated in a learning app, AI is already quietly shaping how children learn and interact.
Parents – Build an Offline Bond Now
Parenting in the age of AI isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about staying curious, keeping conversations open, and raising children who understand that technology should serve them — not shape them.
Darmain encourages families to treat AI literacy as a shared practice:
“A great starting point for families is to simply talk about it.”
Simple questions like:
“Why do you think that specific video recommendation was shown to you?”
“How does the platform know you’d like this song?”
…can stimulate discussion that helps families understand how systems work and point out where risks might be. He also reassures parents that feeling unsure is normal:
“Families should understand that it’s normal to feel overwhelmed and the goal isn’t to become an AI expert overnight.”
Malaysia’s National AI Office (NAIO) is On It
According to Darmain, NAIO has keenly supported the Ministry of Education (MOE) in developing a Guideline and Framework for AI Literacy in Education and has independently launched a pilot activity sheet designed to introduce children to ethical principles in AI.
When asked about one policy change that could shape Malaysia’s AI generation, he shares a forward-looking approach:
“With the Online Safety Act 2025 providing a vital safety net, we have a unique opportunity to look beyond just preventing harm and envision a digital landscape where AI sparks curiosity and independence.”
Make the Time to Start the Conversation
To confidently navigate AI conversations with your kids, consider learning more about AI yourself. Check out some free beginner courses, child-friendly quizzes and resources you can explore together as a family.
AI untuk Rakyat (a self-learning online programme designed to raise public awareness about AI)
Grow with Google (free beginner AI courses for educators, business owners, students, and anyone who wants to learn)
Google’s “Be Internet Awesome” (online safety and digital citizenship for kids)
Common Sense Media on AI (AI-related guides, quizzes, and media literacy resources)
Code.org (AI basics and coding activities designed for children)
Remember, there is no parenting manual for raising kids in this AI-age. Write your own and keep learning so you can keep up.
Malaysia officially launched the NAIO in December 2024 to step up AI innovation and regulation, including creating a code of ethics, establishing a regulatory framework and drafting a five-year AI Nation Action Plan through 2030.
