Online issues and worries: Generative AI

AI can do a lot of cool things, but it all depends on how we as humans use it. If humans instruct it to do good, it can help us achieve a lot of amazing things. However, if humans instruct it to do bad, it can leave people feeling like all AI is bad and harmful. To be ethical with AI means to use these tools in positive ways. Just like we should be kind and helpful to our friends, we should also be ethical when using AI. This means using it in a way that is fair, honest and doesn't hurt anyone.

Examples of ethical use for you can include:

• interviewing a book character to help you learn more about a novel you’re studying in English
• asking for suggestions of games you can play with your family
• learning more about a topic that interests you by asking an AI tool questions

Examples of ethical use in general can include:

• adding the missing pieces of an old piece of art to see what it might have looked like once
• better diagnosing hospital patients based on their symptoms and medical history
• creating a personalised routine to support personal mental health and wellbeing

Ethical use of AI can improve people’s lives and support our wellbeing. It’s important to use technology responsibly to help make the online world positive and welcoming to all.

AI could help humans achieve a lot of amazing things in the future if we learn to use it ethically now.

Unethical use of AI

Unethical use of AI means using AI tools to cheat, mislead or harm people. Those who use AI improperly don’t usually think about the negative impacts. Some common unethical uses include:

• spreading misinformation or lies to a lot of people such as through social media bots
• scamming people out of money
• claiming that work done by AI is your own
• bullying or harassing people online such as through deepfaked images or videos

If you see any of these negative behaviours online (even if you’re not sure if AI is involved), remember to:

• report the content or user to the platform or app they’re using so that moderators can review them
• block anyone who is making you angry, stressed, anxious or sad
• report illegal content such as scams or sextortion to the police via CEOP
• report anything that impacts on your friends or peers at school to a teacher
• talk to a trusted adult to get more help
• use helplines like Meic and Childline to talk about how you’re feeling with a counsellor
• use safe message boards like the one on Childline or Ditch the Label to find others your age to discuss the issue with. This should only be done after you’ve found support from a trusted adult and have reported anything harmful

Protecting your privacy

Our personal data, like our names, addresses and photos make up what’s called a digital footprint. It’s something that can tell people who you are and where you’ve been. Because AI can sometimes collect and use this information, it’s important to keep that personal data private.

As you grow, your digital footprint does too. Any information that you share online gets added to that footprint, and people learning about you in the future can see that information. So, if you’ve said negative things or used AI in unethical ways, future employers (or anyone else) could decide that they don’t want to associate with you.

Additionally, the more data you share online and the bigger that footprint is, the easier it is for cyber criminals to get a hold of that information and target you.

So, keep your digital footprint small by staying anonymous. Don’t share personal data with AI tools, avoid sharing your real name and keep any online profiles private so that only friends and family can see it.

Using AI for creativity and learning

When it comes to ethical use of AI, using tools to enhance creativity and learning is a great option. With AI, you can:

• get ideas for new pieces of art or writing
• improve your understanding of concepts in school subjects like history, science and maths
• come up with ideas for a new story or characters within your story
• learn about topics that interest you through conversation with AI tools like chatbots
• create plans to help you get better at a skill you want to improve
• find ways through tough problems by talking it through with an AI tool

There are so many ways you can use AI tools to support your learning. Just remember to use those tools to help you, not to do everything for you!

If you can use AI in positive ways and think critically about it, you’ll find just how much it can support you and those around you.