Parenting in an AI World
Written by Joe Keller | Executive Pastor
The biblical imperative for parents is to raise their children in a manner that develops the whole person toward a fear of and loving obedience to the Lord. This command transcends generations and cultural moods, promoting faith and the proclamation of the gospel through righteous living (Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Proverbs 22:6-7). It requires an intentional and creative commitment to understand the child, the world they live in, and the truth of the gospel that shapes every area and detail of life. Each child and season of life present unique opportunities and challenges.
We are now living in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. AI is “listening in” on our movies, music, and shopping preferences, guiding virtual healthcare, and navigating driverless cars. The commercial availability of ChatGPT and seemingly overnight new AI-sourced applications that are seamlessly incorporated into everyday life have made it a significant part of the conversation on how to apply our biblical commission to parent well in these pioneering days of digital incorporation. The following are some preliminary considerations for parents navigating these times with resolution and hope.
Respect AI
Every technology has its advantages and challenges. Early adopters often find the best uses for new technology, while late adopters are slower to incorporate it. I understand that AI can seem scary. However, understanding and educating yourself and your children about what AI is and is not can help equip them to use it responsibly. ChatGPT can be a helpful tool, but it can also become a deceptive competitor to original thought and effective work.
“We are now living in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. AI is “listening in” on our movies, music, and shopping preferences, guiding virtual healthcare, and navigating driverless cars.”
Listen to thought leaders in this space, talk with members of your local church who use it regularly, and orient yourself on how you and your family can adopt AI in a manner that reflects your biblical convictions and family values while understanding the pitfalls and distractions. Educating your family about AI is like educating them about the internet or using a smartphone. AI is not going away, and the skill lies not in actively avoiding it but in using it responsibly.
Promote Biblical Literacy
A biblical worldview begins with biblical literacy. Parents should take a proactive role in educating their children on the essential narrative of the Bible. This includes understanding the outline of the Bible, main characters, foundational doctrines, and the gospel. Literacy is not just knowing what is in the Bible but understanding how it unfolds one complete redemptive narrative about Jesus Christ. There are many resources available for children and families to support this effort. One email to your local church pastor will yield more options than you have time for. The challenge is not in the availability of resources, but in strategizing to make time.
Although parents are primarily responsible for ensuring biblical literacy in their children, this task is not outside the fellowship of the local church. Faithful, consistent, and active involvement in the local church is the corporate place for biblical literacy, and the multi-generational investment in your children will enhance your efforts at home and extend well beyond the years at home.
Model Wisdom
When it comes to the use of technology, parental influence is better "caught than taught." Parental use of AI should complement their biblical worldview. If we want our families to be conversant with AI without being directed by it, this ethic must be modeled at home. Everyday moments are the most effective classroom for families. Talk about AI and the use of technology and how it relates to our common pursuit of loving God and people. Promote the beauty of wisdom found in God’s word, the humanities, outdoor activities, the arts, and the priority of the local church. This will help your family experience the world as God created it and prevent false ideologies from reshaping half-truths into authorities. This requires intentionality. Look at your family calendar and consider the rhythms of work, rest, and reflection. Give your family members a taste of how biblical literacy shapes our engagement in every area of life.
“The presence of parents provides a consistent relational context for organic observations on the effects and opportunities that AI brings into the family.”
Create Conversation
The exchange of ideas in the context of relationships is an essential skill to develop. Conversations foster curiosity, help craft good questions, discern between theory and facts, and pursue the betterment of others. When children are around conversations where people who care about each other are genuinely interested in the topics they are discussing, it contrasts with the algorithm-generated chatbot.
The perception that AI understands and cares for the user is one of its deceptive influences on the undiscerning mind. Having our children around different kinds and ages of people who are in loving pursuit of God and others provides experiences that bring perspective to the voice of AI. Additionally, having our families engage in dialogue with missionaries, youth workers, widows, singles, young marrieds, and senior saints, along with their peers, helps shape the perspective of diversity within the unity of the gospel. This biblical worldview helps young people listen to AI within a greater context of human thought. It also builds a community to provide feedback on the innovations or observations that AI brings, enhancing the development of ideas.
Be Present
The most effective parenting method in every era is presence. Parents have grown to understand the effects of screen time on the developmental process of young people and have done a good job regulating it to develop the whole person. AI is another context being incorporated into the lives of your children. The presence of parents provides a consistent relational context for organic observations on the effects and opportunities that AI brings into the family. Parental curiosity and intentional interest in the development of their children will be enriching for both children and parents. When the inevitable disruptions that AI will bring occur, parents will have the relational capital to provide correction and encouragement that will yield benefits for generations to come.
These considerations are nothing new. In fact, these reflections are the same questions that parents have engaged in before we entered this AI world and will be relevant in the years to come. Biblical parenting has always been defined by faithfulness. That will never change. Today’s challenge is AI, and tomorrow it will be something else. Have courage and hope not in your current circumstances. Place your hope in our God who holds together all our tomorrows.
Questions for Reflection:
Who are some friends in your local church that you could invite to help you consider these insights further as you make practical applications to your family?
What are some other areas of your family life that would benefit from this level of consideration?