Every Two Years - A New Generation: Parenting and Education in the Age of AI

This week, on a special expert panel ahead of the new school year on Channel 10 Economics, I was interviewed by Danny Roup on the program “The Next Big Thing.”

During our conversation, Danny said something that perfectly captured what I had in mind when I wrote my book:“My son is 15 and a half, almost 16, and he’s completely different from when he was 13.”

He concluded, “It feels like every two years there’s a new generation.”

That’s exactly why I called my book “The AI Generation” – even though I knew the official term is Generation Alpha (children born until 2024). I realized that:

• The children starting first grade today are very different from the Alpha kids who started three years ago.

• Those children didn’t grow up with 24/7 access to artificial intelligence on their phones.

The Moment Everything Clicked in Parenting in the Age of AI

Danny’s words brought me back to my own children, now 23 and 26. They also lived through rapid technological changes, but the pace back then was slower. That’s when I understood why we, as parents and educators, always feel like we’re running after reality – and it always seems far ahead of us.

I told Danny: “We used to open Google, search, and sort results – like walking into a massive library. Today? Kids don’t search at all. Information comes to them through social networks, and even directly in search engines. It arrives personalized – and for them, personalized information is completely natural.”

The Challenge of Understanding the AI Generation

When our children grow up in a reality so different from ours, it’s hard for us to truly grasp their experience. We tend to educate them from the lens of our own childhood and youth, but we never experienced such dramatic transformations at such a fast pace.

That’s why I argue it’s only natural that parents struggle to guide their children through today’s reality.

We feel like we’re walking on shaky ground (like standing on jelly), while they feel at home. But that’s misleading – because they’re “blind” to the risks of talking to corporate chatbots. The lack of experience we painstakingly built is missing in their lives – and it puts them at risk.

This raises crucial questions:

• How do we explain what’s happening to them?

• What applications is AI replacing?

• What is it improving?

• And most importantly – is it safe for our children to use AI tools?

The Questions Every Parent of the AI Generation Asks

I see two perspectives:

• Opportunity: Technology can help solve problems. For example, I can build a personalized AI tutor for my child – always available, knowledgeable, and affordable.

• Risk: Children talking to chatbots may start to form relationships with machines instead of people – further weakening their social skills, already affected during the pandemic and the war years. What children need today is more warmth, trust, and genuine human connection – something no technology can provide.

This was also the theme of a special lecture I gave for parents, where I spoke about these dangers and the importance of involvement. You can watch the recording

When Kids Already Talk to Machines – They Must Learn Critical Thinking

Children already live in a world where they chat with machines – sometimes forgetting it’s a machine at all. Even adults fall into that trap.

But a conversation with bots can be unsafe if the user doesn’t think critically – and we can’t expect children to develop this skill on their own.

Some bots are trained on data from social networks (Elon Musk’s new Grok Baby app).

This highlights our responsibility as adults: to stop, ask questions, and act as a compass for our children – helping them develop critical thinking for safe and mindful AI use.

Teachers of the AI Generation – Using AI Wisely

Another topic raised in the panel was whether AI bots will replace teachers. My position is clear: teachers will never be replaced.

The goal is to develop teachers’ expertise in using AI and tech tools wisely, while preserving their central role in education.

Machines can assist, enrich, and support learning processes – but they can’t replace human understanding, pedagogical judgment, or the deep relationships teachers build with students.

What Will Never Change in the Age of Machines

One thing remains constant: the importance of close human relationships – trust, support, and the presence of an adult who truly sees the child, understands their needs, and responds.

Only through such relationships can children thrive in a rapidly changing reality. AI cannot replace a hug, eye contact, or the sense of belonging a child feels among peers. This was true in past generations – and it’s still true today.

What I Took from the Panel

This was a rich discussion with other panelists, and my comments were just one part. You can watch the full 40-minute program recording.

When I left the panel, one thought was clear: We’re not just in a technological transition – we’re in a human one.

This generation, growing up with AI as a natural part of their lives, needs us more than ever. Not as all-knowing adults – but as guides who help them tell machine from human, information from wisdom, quick answers from deep thinking.

I also invite you to watch my other interview on Channel 13’s morning show “Starting the Day” – “The AI Generation: How Do We Raise Children in a World of Artificial Intelligence?”

Want to Learn More?

• Subscribe to my newsletter for free guides and updates from the field.

• Explore my courses: “AI in the Classroom” for educators, Prompt Engineering Workshop, and a Beginner’s Mini-Course.

• Subscribe to my YouTube channel Creative Education.

• Order my book: The AI Generation – Raising Children in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.

• Book an inspiring lecture for your school team.

These insights are expanded in my new book: “The AI Generation: Raising Children in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” Learn more on my website Creative Education.

The journey is only beginning – and we’re walking it together with our children.

Q&A – A New Generation Every Two Years: Raising Children in the Age of AI

Q: What’s the main takeaway of this post?A: Today’s kids experience faster changes than ever thanks to 24/7 AI access. Parents and teachers must guide them, teach critical thinking, and keep strong human connections.

Q: Why talk about a new generation every two years?

A: Because the pace of change is so fast that children seem fundamentally different every two years – creating a new parenting and educational challenge.

Q: What are the risks of children using chatbots?

A: Emotional dependency, weakened social skills, and confusion between human and machine.

Q: What’s the solution?

A: Balance – use technology wisely (like AI tutors) but prioritize human trust, support, and relationships.

Q: How should teachers use AI?

A: Not to replace themselves but to enrich learning and free time for deeper connections with students.

Q: What remains constant in the AI era?

A: The importance of close human relationships – hugs, eye contact, trust, and real support.

About the Author

Dr. Limor Leibovitz is a leading expert in integrating technology and artificial intelligence into education. With over 30 years of experience in teaching, teacher training, and designing innovative learning environments, she develops workshops, courses, and programs that empower schools to use AI wisely. She is the author of the book “The AI Generation: Raising Children in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

Learn more at [Creative Education website link] and on her YouTube channel Creative Education.