Crescer entre algoritmos | Camila Achutti | TEDxUNISO

Key Concepts

• Technology as Environment vs. Tool: The fundamental shift in how children interact with technology, moving from using it as a tool to living within it as an environment.
• Three Dilemmas of AI: Competition, Mediation, and Privacy, as framed by a computer scientist.
• Mother's Perspective on Dilemmas: Unfair competition, lack of human mediation, and unattainable privacy.
• Agentic AI: Future AI systems that will execute tasks on behalf of users.
• Statistical Plagiarism: AI's ability to generate content that appears new but is essentially a mathematical approximation.
• Programmed Persuasion: AI's capacity for persuasive communication that is significantly more effective than human persuasion.
• Illusion of Productivity: The superficial appearance of task completion through AI, masking a lack of genuine learning.
• Humanistic Technology: Technology designed to build bridges and foster human connection, rather than create separation.
• Five Commandments for Navigating AI: Educate to perceive, learn to ask, value the human, protect time and body, and participate in technology.

Summary

The speaker, Camila Chute, a computer scientist and mother of two, shares her evolving perspective on technology and its impact on children, particularly in the age of artificial intelligence. The catalyst for her reflection was a simple question from her daughter: "Mom, how do whales sleep?" Faced with her own ignorance and her daughter's reliance on Alexa for answers, Camila realized a profound shift: she grew up with technology as a tool, while her daughter is growing up with technology as an environment. This fundamental difference, she argues, necessitates a re-evaluation of how we educate and interact with AI.

The Three Dilemmas of AI

Camila outlines three major dilemmas presented by the increasing integration of AI, which she terms from a computer scientist's perspective and then translates into more relatable terms from a mother's viewpoint:

1. The Dilemma of Competition (Unfair Competition):

   • Key Point: Parents and educators are now in a constant "dispute of attention" with AI, which offers an unprecedented level of availability and seemingly human-like interaction.
   • Details: Unlike previous interactions with non-neutral feeds, current AI chatbots are designed to foster a sense of friendship. Giving AI a human name (like Alexa) and its opaque, biased algorithms create a concern for "artificial friendship," especially for children whose intellectual and emotional development is not yet equipped to handle the vast information and constant availability.
   • Future Concern: The advent of "agentic AIs" will further blur lines as they will execute tasks, intensifying the competitive landscape.
   • Argument: The speaker emphasizes the need to distinguish between what is human and artificial, and what is trustworthy versus mere "statistical plagiarism" – a mathematical approximation designed to appear novel.
   • Supporting Evidence: Research indicates that AI-generated language can be 3 to 6 times more effective in programmed persuasion than human language, making it easier to trust AI discourse.

2. The Dilemma of Mediation (Lack of Human Mediation):

   • Key Point: The ease of access and interaction with AI has bypassed the need for human mediation in learning and information processing, leading to an "illusion of productivity."
   • Details: While Camila previously advocated for greater technological access, she now sees the challenge in the lack of human guidance. Children are using tools like ChatGPT for homework, but this doesn't necessarily translate to genuine learning.
   • Statistics: A UNICEF Argentina study found that 58% of 9-10 year olds use ChatGPT daily for homework, yet 70% of them struggle to read and interpret texts. This highlights a "poverty of learning" despite apparent task completion.
   • Argument: This trend can extend to higher education, creating an automated cycle where AI creates, executes, and corrects, leaving no room for human learning. AI algorithms are optimized for user engagement (time on tool, satisfaction), not human development.
   • Consequence: This erodes genuine learning and can lead to a loss of authorship and a blurring of reality and non-reality due to the absence of human discernment.

3. The Dilemma of Privacy (Unattainable Privacy):

   • Key Point: The inherent structure of current systems exposes children and adolescents to significant risks regarding their personal data and digital image.
   • Details: Children, with less emotional repertoire, engage in intimate exchanges with AI tools that have no limitations on how they can use this information against users.
   • Real-world Application: The speaker uses the example of posting photos of her daughters. While she loves sharing them, her computer scientist's mind questions the terms of use and potential misuse of these images. Children will face the long-term consequences of this digital exposure, potentially without the legal or emotional resources to cope.
   • Argument: The structural design of technology poses a significant risk to children's privacy and future digital well-being.

Towards a Humanistic Technology

Despite the challenges, Camila emphasizes that not all is lost. She advocates for building a "humanistic technology" that connects rather than divides. She has witnessed AI's positive impact on biodiversity in the Amazon and in educational settings. To navigate this future, she proposes five guiding principles, or "commandments":

1. Educate to Perceive: Before engaging with digital content, question its reality, its human origin, and its purpose. This requires a heightened sensitivity beyond mere usage.
2. Learn to Ask: As AI provides rapid answers, the skill of asking good questions becomes paramount. This involves returning to Socratic methods and engaging in meaningful dialogue, even with AI.
3. Value the Human: Prioritize real-life interactions, free from digital distractions, to reinforce trust and genuine connection.
4. Protect Time and Body: Recognize the detrimental effects of hyper-connectivity, excessive screen time, and exposure to risky content on cognitive function and well-being.
5. Participate in Technology: Engage in discussions about AI, exert political pressure, and seek to understand how these technologies work. This collective effort is crucial for building a desirable technological future for children and ourselves.

Conclusion

Camila Chute's presentation underscores the urgent need for a conscious and critical approach to artificial intelligence, especially concerning its impact on children. She argues that the shift from technology as a tool to technology as an environment necessitates a fundamental re-evaluation of education, parental guidance, and societal engagement with AI. By understanding the inherent dilemmas of competition, mediation, and privacy, and by adopting principles that prioritize human connection, critical thinking, and active participation, we can strive to build a future where technology serves as a bridge to opportunities and fosters a more humanistic world.