Autistic Young Adults Wanted to Shape AI Tool SocialWise

As teens turn to AI for emotional support, helping them use technology safely also means helping them stay connected to people. In a new KCTV5 story, Camber’s Bethany Nold, Program Development Manager, discusses the risks of AI becoming a young person’s primary source of advice or emotional validation. “They’ve never known unplugged,” Bethany shared. “So we can’t make it go away. We have to teach them to use it safely.” Her perspective offers an important focus for those supporting youth: not simply discouraging AI use, but encouraging critical thinking and relationships with trusted people. Thank you, Bethany, for bringing Camber’s perspective to this conversation and helping families better understand what’s at stake. Read the full story at KCTV5 Kansas City: https://hubs.ly/Q04zdyGQ0

What does critical #AILiteracy look like when it reaches a community? Ask Tanvi. Tanvi Grover served as a #LocalAmbassador with Teens in AI in New York, running the programme for students in her own community. She calls it "𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅." 🗣️ "𝑰𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚." What stood out to her wasn't the tech. It was watching students take the real-world problems they already care about - mental health, education gaps, online safety - and use #AI to build solutions for good. That shift, in her words, from ideas to purpose-driven solutions. That's what the #GlobalAITechathon is about. Young people aged 13–18 don't just learn how AI works. They use it to tackle what matters to them, across three challenge areas: 🌍 #ReimaginePotential 💚 #ReimagineWellbeing 🚀 #ReimagineProgress As we look ahead to 2027, we're making room for more people who want to bring this to young people where they are. You don't need to be a technical expert. You need a community you can gather in and a belief that young people can lead. If that sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you. 👉 Express your interest and find out how you can bring the Global AI Techathon to your community. 🔗https://lnkd.in/dXF_3qq6 #TeensInAI #GlobalAITechathon #LocalAmbassador #AILiteracy #TeensinAI2027

What age is developmentally appropriate for introducing children to AI? This is a question I hear more and more. Yet, to my knowledge, developmental and cognitive psychology has not settled on one “right age.” And perhaps age alone is the wrong place to start. In this thought-provoking paper, Sonia Livingstone and Kim Sylwander challenge the use of milestone birthdays to govern children’s digital lives. Turning 13, for example, does not suddenly give a child the maturity to understand data collection, algorithmic influence or online risk. Nor do all 13-year-olds have the same capacities, circumstances or support. The authors propose the idea of evolving capacities: children’s agency should be enabled as early as possible, while their vulnerabilities should be protected for as long as necessary. Applied to AI, this means asking better questions: What can this child understand? What support is available? What risks does the tool introduce? And does its use expand the child’s learning and agency or quietly replace them? There may be no single right age. But there are certainly more and less responsible ways to introduce AI. Link to the paper in the first comment. Reference Livingstone, S., & Sylwander, K. R. (2025). There is no right age! The search for age-appropriate ways to support children’s digital lives and rights. Journal of Children and Media, 19(1), 6–12. #AIinEducation #ChildrenAndAI #DigitalLiteracy #ChildrensRights #ParentingInTheDigitalAge

AI is no longer just helping youth with homework.  It's becoming a friend, advisor, confidant, and even a companion.  What happens when youth turn to AI for connection, support, advice, or answers? On Tuesday, November 17 Robbie Torney joins Operation Parent to explore how AI is shaping relationships, emotional wellbeing, and social development. From AI companions and virtual relationships to AI-powered toys and tools built into tech platforms, they’'ll take a closer look at how these technologies are influencing the way youth think, connect, and grow, and what parents and caregivers need to know as AI becomes a bigger part of everyday life. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gfrfjYn9

Why Build a AI companion entirely around accessibility and inclusion, especially towards the most vulnerable among technology. LITTLE JAHSI is needed. Let me explain why. 1. Kids are already talking to AI. The question is what kind. They're lonely, they're anxious, and they're turning to screens. That genie's not going back in the bottle. So the real question isn't *whether* our kids will have AI companions, it's whether those companions are built to protect them or to hook them. 2. She's built for graduation, not engagement. Every other companion is designed to keep kids scrolling, chatting, dependent. Little Jahsi is designed for the opposite, she's working when a kid needs her *less*. Using the app less while doing more. Going outside, joining teams, being social. Nobody else is building for that. 3. She exists for the kids nobody else is building for. The neurodivergent kids. The anxious teens. The elders. And especially the kids who don't have a safe parent to be guided to, that's the whole point of the company. The most vulnerable kids get the least protection online. She flips that. 4. Safety isn't a feature. It's the foundation. She never diagnoses. She always points a child back to a parent or someone safe. Guardian Amy watches over every interaction. And the world is catching up, California just made child-safety audits mandatory for AI companions. We were already there. 5. AI is an equalizer — if we bring it to the people who need it most. The best technology shouldn't only serve the most privileged kids. It should reach the overlooked ones, speak their culture, and remind them they matter. That's not charity. That's just making the world better. I don’t take this opportunity that we have lightly. We are truly living in a time where anything is possible. As a child advocate, care taker, mentor, technologist and business woman. Building a world where the safety and emotional stability of our youth is the most fundamental part of the journey is truly an honor.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐈. 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭? Parents are already being asked to make decisions no previous generation had to make: • Should my child try the assignment before asking AI? • How much AI assistance is too much? • Did AI help my child learn, or did it do the thinking for them? • What information should my child verify? • What thinking and decisions should never be delegated to AI? • Do I know what personal information my child may be sharing with AI? 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞. Does your child understand what personal information should never be shared with an AI tool? Names, locations, school information, photographs, family details, and health information can easily become part of an AI conversation. Children need clear, age-appropriate boundaries before they begin sharing. Most parents did not grow up navigating these questions. Yet the habits children develop now may shape how they learn, protect their information, solve problems, evaluate answers, and make decisions for years to come. 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬. They need a practical, age-appropriate playbook they can begin using at home. This why I wrote Artificial Thinking™ for Families. It gives families: • A simple five-step habit: 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞, 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤, 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 • Age-specific guidance for children 𝟔–𝟗, 𝟏𝟎–𝟏𝟑 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟏𝟒–𝟏𝟕 • Practical family rules and conversation starters • Age-appropriate guidance about privacy, personal information and safe AI boundaries • Ways to recognize when helpful AI assistance is becoming overdependence • Guidance for protecting curiosity, effort, critical thinking and judgment • A framework children can carry into school, college and the workplace This is not a book about banning AI or fearing the future. It is a practical guide for raising children who can benefit from powerful technology while still knowing how to think, question, verify, and choose for themselves. 𝐀𝐈 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. If your family is using AI, or will soon be, this is a conversation worth starting now. Artificial Thinking™ for Families is available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/07slybva #ParentingInTheAIAge #ArtificialThinking #FamilyTechnology #AIAndEducation

Navigating how AI tools shape our kids is uncharted territory for many families. That was the central focus of the Parent Forum in NYC last week.   Our team joined the conversation, where Dr. Michael Rich (Director and Founder of the Digital Wellness Lab) moderated a fireside chat with Emily Oster (ParentData), Stephanie LeBlanc-Godfrey (Mother AI), and Dr. Allison Fine Mishkin (OpenAI).   A few key themes shaped the evening: ▪ Be honest and engaged: We can’t separate kids from tech, so lean into open dialogue. Ask what they find helpful (or untrustworthy) to set rules together without shutting down communication. ▪ Tools vs. people: Remind teens that while AI is great for brainstorming, it can't replace real human connection, advice, or support. ▪ No single playbook: Questions around homework, limits, and overuse don't have a one-size-fits-all solution. Parents don't need to have everything figured out right away—starting the conversation is what matters.   Navigating AI with our kids isn't about having all the answers today—it's about staying connected and learning together. We're honored to bring youth and family perspectives to these critical conversations. Thank you to everyone who made the Parent Forum such a success!   #DigitalWellness #Parenting #ArtificialIntelligence #YouthVoice

Returning to university for trimester 3 has reminded me that learning often happens at the intersection of tradition and innovation. This week, we were asked to use AI to describe our social work practice framework. The result was a visual representation of the values, relationships, and approaches that shape my practice. At the centre of my framework is a simple belief: people are the experts in their own lives. From that foundation flow principles of self-determination, social justice, dignity, trust, community connection, advocacy, and strengths-based practice. These are not merely classroom concepts. They guide how I engage with individuals, communities, and systems. The exercise introduced AI and its role in organising and visualising our thinking, while reminding us that the heart of social work remains deeply human. Relationships, belonging, and collective action remain the foundation for meaningful change. I appreciate the chance to further develop my practice and consider my work within the community, all while experimenting with new approaches. This exercise left me wondering: if you were to visualise your professional values and approach, what would it look like? #ProfessionalDevelopment #CommunityLedPractice #ReflectivePractice #LifelongLearning

SENIORS EMBRACING AI: START WITH PURPOSE 💜How do we encourage more seniors to embrace AI? The answer may be simpler than we think: Give it purposeful meaning .Older adults dont need technology introduced simply because its new. They need to understand how it connects to what already matters in their lives: 💜 Better understanding of health and wellness 💜 Staying socially connected 💜 Greater independence and confidence 💜 Learning, creativity and even gaming 💜 Preserving stories, memories and lived wisdomIn this conversation, we explore why engaging elders with AI must begin with relevance—not technology. When an elder can see, This can help me understand my health, This can help me stay connected, or This can help me preserve something for my grandchildren, AI stops being an abstract idea. It becomes a tool with purpose. Be sure to watch the video below and listen to what my dear Auntie Pamela Shields has to say about why making AI relevant to seniors so important and how she and her community are making this an everyday reality. Thats what The Wisdom Keepers is about: helping elders engage with emerging technology in ways that support how they live, connect, learn and pass their wisdom forward. Live Well. Stay Connected. Pass It Forward. 👉 Subscribe and join the community:https://lnkd.in/eg2ZnPUj 💜 Subscribe to The Wisdom Keepers and join a movement to preserve our living libraries. 👉 Join the movement: https://lnkd.in/etHXkEUE, to receive your foundational prompt to get started. #TheWisdomKeepers #SeniorsAndAI #AIForGood #AfricanAIAuntie #HealthyAging #DigitalInclusion #OlderAdults #ArtificialIntelligence

This new Brookings commentary raises important considerations about the growing presence of artificial intelligence in children’s educational tools, toys and digital environments, particularly during the earliest years of development. One point that stands out is the importance of including parents, early childhood educators, and child development experts in decisions about how these technologies are designed, evaluated, and introduced into children’s lives. As AI continues to evolve, the question is not simply whether it has a place in early childhood, but how we ensure its use is developmentally appropriate, informed by research and supportive of children’s learning and well-being. An important perspective worth considering as we navigate the opportunities and challenges of AI in early childhood education. https://lnkd.in/gTKZTTEA #ArtificialIntelligence #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ChildDevelopment #EducationTechnology #EarlyChildhoodSystems