Generative AI: guide for parents and carers

This is not an exhaustive list but represents some of the most used and easily accessible versions of gen AI.

ChatGPT

Developed by OpenAI, this tool generates human-like text, making it suitable for things like:

• conversations
• writing tasks
• content creation

ChatGPT can simulate a natural conversation with its responses to prompts and requests. Ofcom’s Online Nation 2023 report shows that this element has proven to appeal to children and young people: 48% of those using gen AI state that their preferred activity is chatting with it. However, it is also used for drafting essays, generating ideas and editing content to improve clarity and coherence. Users can also invest time in ‘training’ ChatGPT so that the responses sound more like the user. This can make it harder to differentiate between AI and user-generated content.

DALL-E

DALL-E is another model from OpenAI. Unlike ChatGPT, it requires a paid account to access and generate images. DALL-E excels at turning descriptive text into detailed images. Though DALL-E has many uses, it is often used for digital art, or simply for fun and allows users to bring their imagination to life in a visual format. DALL-E supports a range of artistic styles which allows users to experiment with visual ideas which would otherwise be hard to create.

Microsoft Copilot

Integrated into Microsoft Office, it leverages AI to assist users in a range of activities, including:

• drafting emails
• generating reports
• creating presentations

In its current form, Copilot states that it is behind ChatGPT as a pure, conversational chatbot. However, its integration into the Microsoft Edge search engine means that it is more widely available as it is open whenever the browser is. This means it is connected to users and provides real-time suggestions to users. A key difference between ChatGPT and Copilot is that responses from Copilot come with web-link citations which allow users to verify any information they are given.

Copilot also has an image generator which is powered by DALL-E and specialises in using descriptive text to create an artistic image. Although powered by DALL-E it is limited to creating images from text inputs and does not give users access to the full range of tools and features. Image generation has a limited number of free uses, ‘boosts’, which makes it more accessible for children and young people. Users must wait until the beginning of each month for boosts to replenish. There is, currently, no service to pay for boosts. Users may be able to earn more through:

• promotions
• engaging with the platform (for example by completing surveys or providing feedback)
• referrals

Google Gemini

Google’s latest AI system is designed to generate text, helping with creative writing, summarising, and content editing. Like ChatGPT and Copilot, Google Gemini produces text responses to user prompts. It can also analyse data from a variety of sources like code, audio, images and text. Like Microsoft Copilot, Gemini provides links to its sources so users can check the validity of a response themselves.

My AI (Snapchat)

Integrated into Snapchat, this conversational AI tool interacts with users in a casual, friendly manner. It is often used for quick information retrieval or social interaction. My AI, from Snapchat, is powered using OpenAI’s GPT 3.5 and 4 so there are many similarities to ChatGPT. However, it has been adjusted so that it is tailored to Snapchat and its users. My AI provides quick, conversational responses to user queries, making it a fun and engaging tool for daily interactions. It can answer questions, provide recommendations or just engage in casual banter. My AI also helps users generate personalised content, such as tailored messages or creative captions for their snaps.