What Parents Need to Know About Generation AI | As Seen on FOX 5 Atlanta with Matt Britton
Artificial Intelligence isn’t the future—it’s the childhood environment for an entire generation.
In a recent appearance on FOX 5 Atlanta, Matt Britton—author of Generation AI: Why Generation Alpha and the Age of AI Will Change Everything—shared a blunt truth with viewers: AI is already rewriting the script for how our children grow, learn, and engage with the world.
And the adults raising them? Most are dangerously underprepared.
Meet Generation Alpha: The First AI-Native Generation
Born between 2010 and 2025, Generation Alpha is the first group of humans to grow up in a world where artificial intelligence is embedded in daily life from day one. From personalized YouTube content to AI chatbots they talk to like friends, this generation isn’t discovering AI—they’re being raised by it.
“Gen Alpha will never know a world without AI,” Britton told FOX 5. “They’ll form relationships with it, use it to solve problems, and rely on it more intimately than any generation before.”
And unlike with Gen Z, where a digital divide still existed between parents and children, Gen Alpha’s parents are Millennials—digital natives themselves. That adds a new wrinkle: tech fluency in the household might speed adoption, but it also raises expectations. Kids are modeling behaviors faster than ever.
AI Is Evolving Faster Than Any Technology in History
To understand the urgency, consider this: the capabilities of AI double every seven months .
That means the tools your child uses today to write an essay or edit a TikTok will be exponentially more powerful—and more persuasive—within a year. And that cycle keeps accelerating.
“When Wikipedia came out, we panicked about kids not learning to research,” Britton explained. “But this is different. AI doesn’t just help kids find answers. It writes the answers. It creates images. It simulates relationships.”
This isn’t about automation. It’s about transformation. Parents must understand how AI is reshaping not just tasks—but cognition, creativity, and emotional development.
Digital Childhood Starts at Birth—Literally
According to Britton, over 90% of Gen Alpha will have a digital footprint before age 2 . Many already have social media accounts, URLs, or digital archives set up by well-meaning parents who recognize that reputation and presence start early in a connected world.
In other words: if your child has a name, they probably have data attached to it already.
The implications? Massive. These early digital identities will influence how algorithms categorize them, what content they’re served, and how they’re targeted for ads and experiences throughout their lives.
Are Schools Keeping Up? Not Even Close.
One of the most alarming moments in Britton’s FOX 5 interview came when he compared today’s classrooms to yesterday’s world.
“I talk to professors still teaching from textbooks written pre-AI,” he said. “That’s like teaching kids to drive using a horse and buggy manual.”
Education remains grounded in memorization—when AI now makes facts instantly accessible. The true value, Britton argues, lies in skills that machines can’t easily replicate: critical thinking, creativity, ethics, and emotional intelligence .
The Risks of Overreliance
AI’s seductive power is convenience. But if children rely too heavily on it, they may bypass the very skills they need for adulthood.
Britton warns: “It’s going to be a real balancing act. You want your child to experiment with these tools. But not at the expense of learning how to think, question, and create independently.”
That risk isn’t hypothetical. Some kids are already forming bonds with AI bots and virtual companions—seeing them as friends, even confidants. In a world where synthetic relationships can feel as “real” as human ones, parents must help their children distinguish between the two.
The Future of Parenting Is AI-Literate
So what can parents do?
Britton offers three clear takeaways:
Get Hands-On With AI
Don’t just read about it—use it. Tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Perplexity.ai can help you understand what your kids are experiencing. Learn how AI thinks, how it makes mistakes, and how it learns.
Focus on What AI Can’t Teach
Double down on creativity, empathy, problem-solving, and human connection. AI can write an essay. It can’t teach your child how to care about the topic or relate it to real-world impact.
Set Boundaries, Not Bans
Banning AI won’t work. It’s everywhere. Instead, help your child build a healthy relationship with technology. Ask: What did the AI help you do? What did you add to it?
The Workforce Ahead: Unknown, But Imminent
Britton cited a staggering statistic: 80% of the jobs Gen Alpha will pursue by 2030 haven’t even been invented yet .
That means preparing kids for a known job market is short-sighted. Instead, parents should foster adaptability, curiosity, and lifelong learning. The kid who learns how to learn—not just what to learn—will thrive in an AI-defined economy.
What’s Next? The AI Generation Has Arrived
Generation Alpha isn’t a side effect of tech—they’re the main character. And as Britton argues in his book, this generation will not just use AI—they’ll expect the world to operate with it.
That’s going to impact:
Marketing – Kids will expect brands to understand them instantly.
Education – Personalization will become the norm, not the luxury.
Healthcare – AI bots will assist in diagnosis, wellness, and mental health.
Relationships – Emotional connections may start as code.
Identity – Children will grow up with both real and digital selves.
Final Word: Ready or Not, the Future Is Here
“AI won’t raise your kids,” Britton says. “But it will be there at every step of their development. And it’s up to you to prepare them for that reality.
If you’re a parent, educator, or anyone shaping the future for Gen Alpha, this isn’t the time to opt out. The world is changing—faster than you think. And Generation AI is already adapting.
