Have you ever noticed how video games get harder just when you're getting good?
Or how Netflix or YouTube always suggest the perfect next show or video to watch?
That's artificial intelligence, AI, at work.
Welcome to AI for Kids, the podcast where we explore AI together with your parents and teachers.
We'll look at how it works in simple ways with real examples.
And we'll talk honestly about the worries like safety, privacy and what it means for the future, so everyone feels informed.
Are you ready to get started?
Let's discover AI together.
Welcome to the AI for Kids podcast, the podcast for moms, aunties and teachers who want the kids they love to understand AI without more screen time.
We keep it simple, safe, and fun.
No tech degree required.
Each episode breaks down AI ideas and includes activities to help kids use AI in ways that keep them curious and creative.
No pressure, no overwhelm, no extra screens.
Just clear, engaging learning you can feel good about.
Let's get started.
Hey there, kids.
Welcome to our season two finale of the AI for Kids podcast.
I'm your host, Amber Ivey, aka AI.
And I just wanted to say, wow, what a season we've had this year.
We've been on a journey together this season.
I really appreciate you all for joining me and going along.
Whether you've been listening from the beginning or just found us, I am so happy you're here.
This season was packed with curiosity, creativity and community just the way we want learning about AI to be.
We've explored how AI works, why it matters and how kids like you are already leading the way in thinking about the future of AI and already using it and interacting with these tools.
We met some incredible guests along the way.
Tersa Ridgeway, a rocket scientist turned children's book author, reminded us that tech is for everyone and that coding can be fun.
Reed Koch, an AI engineer and longtime teacher, made tricky topics like neural networks super simple to understand.
Kashfi Mittal, a teen advocate, showed us how young people are using AI to drive change in their schools and communities, and how she's bringing AI literacy to kids for free.
And Dipti Bidet, founder of LittleLint, talked about the power of storytelling and how families can explore AI through everyday moments and what it means to be AI literate as a kid.
We also tackled some pretty big questions like what is a prompt and why does it matter?
Can AI help us feel better or even relax?
Is Apple's new AI safe for kids?
And how can AI be smart but still not really truly understand us? there's a lot to explore.
So, if you're just joining us, go check out the over 40 episodes we've released across season one and season two.
We've got something for all kids, from playful ABCs to deeper conversations for curious tweens and teens.
And since it's summertime, you might be wondering how do I keep learning without spending all day on a screen?
One, get outside, get away from these computers, get away from these screens, and go enjoy yourself.
If you need some screen-free activities to try this summer, I got you.
One is design your own dream AI helper.
So draw it, sculpt it, or build a model of your very own AI robot or AI assistant.
What would it do?
Would it help you with homework?
Would it tell jokes, translate languages, give it a funny name, write a little story about it and share it with friends and family?
Also feel free to build it if you have a robot kit or Legos or even cardboard boxes.
Build it and share it with your friends.
Next, I want you to go on an AI scavenger hunt.
Pretend you either have AI vision and can search your home or neighborhood for items based on shape, color or pattern, like something red and round or shiny and square.
This helps you understand how AI learns to recognize objects just like you did in the game.
Another version of this game is to take time over the summer to identify different things you see that are now using AI, and keeping a catalog of those to see how AI is changing and becoming a part of your everyday life.
Last but not least, feel free to host a family prompt game night, right?
Take turns, giving each other prompts like tell a bedtime story about a pizza that wants to be a hero and respond like an AI would.
It's silly, fun, and teaches how important clarity is when talking to these AI systems.
Now I want to see how much you remember with a quick AI for Kids summer quiz.
What does AI stand for?
Take a second, shout it out.
Okay, now what is a prompt?
Explain it in a way that your little sister or cousin could understand.
Make it really easy.
Okay.
What kind of AI learns from rewards?
Now, can AI have feelings?
And then last, but of course not least, name one guest you met this season.
Okay, I hope you shouted out your answers.
Now let's see if you got them right.
What does AI stand for?
AI stands for artificial intelligence, of course.
All of you should have got that one right, especially if you've been a listener.
If you didn't get it right, feel free to start with episode one, and we'll get you right to where you need to be.
What is a prompt?
A prompt is what you say or type to tell AI what to do.
That's the most basic way to explain it.
Did you get that one right?
What kind of AI learns from rewards?
It's reinforcement learning.
Remember, we talked about that in a previous episode.
And can AI have feelings?
Nope, AI doesn't feel even if it sounds like it can.
At least today it doesn't feel.
We'll see what happens in the future.
And then last but not least, name one guest we met this season.
You could have named Tersa Kashvi, Reed or Dipti, which I named earlier in the episode, and that would be a great job.
You get bonus points if you name any other guests that were not in the list.
And real quick for grownups.
If you wanna keep your kids learning this summer without adding more screen time, sign up for our free bi-weekly newsletter at aidigitalescom.
Backslash newsletter.
I put the link in the show notes.
You'll get fun.
Screen-free activities that teach AI concepts, simple updates on what's happening in the world of AI, or even conversation starters for the dinner table or the drive to camp this summer.
Oh, and one more thing.
We're launching something super exciting this fall.
It's called AI DigiCards and we're kicking it off with the ABCs of AI activity deck, where your kid will be able to learn about AI through games stories, hands-on challenges.
And this first deck is made for kids aged four to eight.
It's totally screen-free to start.
It's designed in a way that helps kids understand this concept in an easy way.
And it allows them to learn about technology without being glued to a tablet or a smartphone.
And even if you don't know much about tech for yourself, it's also easy for parents, teachers and caregivers to use.
So if you want to be one of the first to get a set, join the waitlist at aidigicards.com.
That's A-I-D-I-G-I-C-A-R-D-S.com so you don't miss out.
I've also dropped the link in the show notes.
And finally, kids and parents, mark your calendars.
We'll be back with season three on September 2nd of this year, with new guests, new stories, new activities and more ways to help you feel confident about living in a world filled with AI.
Whether it was your bedtime routine, your classroom breaks or long car rides, thank you for bringing us into your lives and into your homes and into your classrooms.
We appreciate it so much.
You're helping raise a generation that doesn't just use technology, that actually understands it and creates with it.
I want you all to have the best summer ever.
Stay curious, stay kind, and remember, let kids be kids, not robots.
Bye for now.
And we'll see you in September and always stay curious.
Bye-bye.
Thank you for joining us as we explore the fascinating world of artificial intelligence.
Don't keep this adventure to yourself.
Download it, share it with your friends and let everyone else in on the fun.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.
See you next time on AI for Kids.
