YOU CANNOT GIVE WHAT YOU DO NOT HAVE
I'm excited for you to read today's post because I'll be unpacking 4 things you need to know to future-proof your child in a world threatened by technology.
It's really simple.
If you want to empower your child, you first have to empower yourself.
Everything begins with you, the parent, the educator.
For that, you must know what is going on around you.
One of the most significant changes currently happening is the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on various industries and job markets.
AI is turning several jobs upside down, and it’s important to ensure that our children are prepared for this new reality.
As parents and educators, let's keep ourselves informed on what's going on today so that you can better prepare your child for tomorrow.
Let's dive in:
💡 THE FUTURE IS HERE, AND IT’S MOVING AT LIGHTNING SPEED.
“The future is coming, whether we’re ready or not. It’s time to prepare for the unknown and face it head-on.” - John C. Maxwell
Imagine the world where AI can perform better than humans at certain types of tasks.
In just the last few months, we’ve seen the proliferation of AI tools to cheat on homework and answer all your questions.
It’s replacing the brain of your child.
The craziest thing is it is only a glimpse of what’s to come.
Writing is just an example of a skill that is already being impacted by AI. What other skills that we have previously thought only humans could do will become obsolete?
How can we prepare our children for this new reality?
💡SOME SKILLS WILL BECOME MORE RELEVANT, SOME WILL BECOME OBSOLETE.
“Natural selection is the process that nature uses to keep the species true to their kind, and it operates by a process of elimination.” - Charles Darwin
Like how the rise of digital cameras made film photography almost non-existent.
This means that as AI start performing better than humans at certain types of tasks, the skills we once considered crucial may soon become redundant.
But it’s not the end of the road.
This shift in the job market also presents an opportunity for our children to develop skills that are in-demand.
Skills that are transferable and irreplaceable.
Skills such as:
Adaptability
Critical thinking
Creative expression
Interpersonal connection
These are just some of the skills that AI cannot replicate (for now) and will be increasingly valuable in time to come.
💡CREATIVITY IS THE CURRENCY OF THE FUTURE.
“The world will belong to the creators, the ones who are not afraid to take risks and shape the future, not just consume it.” - Elon Musk
The world will belong to creators, not consumers.
Children who lead their lives with a desire to create will answer the world’s biggest problems with the most effective solutions.
Now, we are caught in a tidal wave of entrepreneurship.
The personal brand will become increasingly valuable.
A unique and authentic voice will be necessary to stand out in a world where competition is fierce.
When technology is making everything and everyone similar, distinctiveness is of paramount importance.
In order to thrive, our children must become the “black” sheep.
One that goes against the grain, break free from the bonds of conformity and present themselves differently.
💡DEALING WITH TECHNOLOGICAL AMBIGUITY WITH YOUR CHILD.
In recent news, we have seen education institutions banning the use of AI tools like ChatGPT.
Is this the correct move?
Or is it just a widespread fear of change?
Here are my thoughts:
I love the idea of working smart.
Yet, being relevant is also an indicator of an open mind.
Knowing how to leverage technology to do the work for you is itself a vital skill, just like learning how to use Excel has become more important than knowing how to do all the arithmetic manually.
We believe that the future belongs to those who can make use of technology to achieve more at a faster speed (again, creative use of technology).
This is the inevitable reality.
As parents, we need to answer this question:
Do we fight technology, or do we embrace it?
If you choose to fight it, ask yourself why?
If you choose to embrace it, do it with the right intentions for the right cause.
Lesson: it’s crucial to confront the ambiguity that arises and have honest conversations with your children.
This itself is part of the preparation for a future that is being revolutionised by technology.
And mind you, AI is only a small piece of the pie.
Soon, other emerging tech will spearhead their way into our lives like an unstoppable train.
Don’t be that brick wall in its way.
Parents, approach the future with an open-mind.
Foster a spirit of adaptability within your child, but it begins with you.
In order not to be left behind, our children will need a resiliency that is not like yesterday.
