Ep 98 - What Parents Need to Know About Raising Kids in the AI Era with Sarah Dooley

<p><strong>What Parents Need to Know About Raising Kids in the AI Era</strong></p><p>AI is already woven into everyday family life, from streaming platforms and video games to school devices and social media. So how can parents help their children navigate it safely?</p><p>In this episode, Hannah talks with <strong>Sarah Dooley, founder of AI Empowered Mom</strong>, about the do’s and don’ts of AI with children. Sarah shares why parents shouldn&#39;t wait to start talking about AI, how to explain that AI isn&#39;t a person or a friend, why AI literacy starts with parents themselves, and which emerging AI tools she considers off-limits for her own family.</p><p>They also discuss AI companions and toys, privacy concerns, the importance of maintaining healthy &quot;friction&quot; in childhood, and why conversations about AI safety need to evolve alongside the technology.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Don&#39;t wait to talk to your kids about AI.</strong> AI is already embedded in many of the technologies families use every day.</p></li><li><p><strong>Teach children that AI isn&#39;t human.</strong> It may communicate like a person, but it&#39;s a machine—not a friend or family member.</p></li><li><p><strong>AI conversations should be ongoing.</strong> Technology and its risks are changing too quickly for a one-time conversation about safety.</p></li><li><p><strong>Parents need AI literacy, too.</strong> Before teaching children about AI, parents should understand what these tools can and can&#39;t do.</p></li><li><p><strong>Don&#39;t blindly trust AI-generated information.</strong> Generative AI can be excellent at creating content, but factual information needs to be checked by a human.</p></li><li><p><strong>Be cautious about AI companions and toys.</strong> Sarah recommends maintaining a boundary between children and AI companionship until stronger safety assurances exist.</p></li><li><p><strong>Childhood needs some friction.</strong> Struggling with problems and navigating difficult situations are important parts of development, and AI can sometimes remove too much of that friction.</p></li><li><p><strong>Every family needs its own technology boundaries.</strong> Parents should consider their values and decide what types of AI use are appropriate for their family.</p></li><li><p><strong>Privacy matters.</strong> Sarah specifically raises concerns about AI-enabled glasses and other technologies that can potentially capture or expose information about people.</p></li><li><p><strong>Stay informed.</strong> Because the AI landscape changes rapidly, parents need to continually reassess the tools their children encounter.</p></li></ul><p>“Don&#39;t assume that this is going to go away or that it won&#39;t impact your family.”</p><p>“This isn&#39;t a member of our family. This isn&#39;t our friend. This is a thinking machine that helps our family.”</p><p>“When it comes to facts, you have to check them. You have to have a human in the loop.”</p><p>“We try and keep a little bit of friction in our kids&#39; lives and make parents&#39; lives a little bit easier.”</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.aiempoweredmom.com/"><strong>AI Empowered Mom</strong></a>— Sarah Dooley&#39;s work helping parents and caregivers use AI safely and responsibly to lighten the mental load.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/"><strong>Common Sense Media</strong></a> — A resource Sarah recommends for researching technology, AI tools, and family technology decisions.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.digitalmom.me/"><strong>Digital Mom</strong></a> — Another resource Sarah mentions using when evaluating technology for her family.</p></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Year-Yes-Dance-Stand-Person/dp/1476777128"><strong>Subscribe</strong></a><a href="https://www.heronhousemanagement.com/"><strong> &amp; Leave a Review:</strong></a></p><p>If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcast