Chen Qiufan: do not let neural networks raise your child

At what age should a child be introduced to artificial intelligence? How might replacing live communication with virtual interaction affect a developing personality? And most importantly — will we manage to explain to children where reality ends and fiction begins before neural networks do it for us? These questions were discussed in the Open Dialoguepodcast "OD on Air" with the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of Russia, Maxim Oreshkin, by science fiction writer, President of the Chinese Science Fiction Writers Association and co-author of the bestseller "AI 2041", Chen Qiufan.

"Between the ages of 9 and 12, curiosity about science, the universe, literature and many other subjects begins to emerge. Before that age, I would limit the use of artificial intelligence without parental supervision, because insufficiently developed neural connections in children make it extremely risky. The use of AI represents the shortest path, disrupting the real feedback necessary for growth and personality formation. We must prioritise genuine connections, reading real books, independent thinking, improving written and spoken language skills, and building relationships with peers, parents, nature and animals. Such connections are an essential part of learning. They cannot be replaced by virtual interaction. We must be extremely cautious, as AI is now everywhere, and even parents find it difficult to distinguish the real from the fictional. Children raised in such an environment will lose the ability to recognise reality," said Chen Qiufan.

Watch the full episode of the podcast with the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of Russia, Maxim Oreshkin, and Chen Qiufan on the website or on VKontakte.

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA