La Jornada: There are disparities in the use of AI in childhood: Unicef

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warns that artificial intelligence (AI) now occupies a central place in almost all the main applications and platforms used by children.

However, the limited research available on the impact of this technological tool on children shows that there are disparities in the types of use, attitudes towards it, levels of trust, understanding of privacy protection and exposure to risks.

The updated guide on AI and children’s rights highlights that in rich countries such as the United States and England, almost half of children already learn in school with AI applications, while in low- and middle-income nations, the percentage is much lower, which implies the risk of new access and learning gaps, among other challenges.

The objective, says the United Nations body, is to promote children’s rights in government and private sector AI policies and practices, in addition to raising awareness about how AI systems can defend or undermine these rights.

The guide, he adds, establishes 10 requirements for child-centered AI. Among them, ensuring their security and regulatory frameworks, supervision and compliance with AI focused on them; in addition to protecting the data and privacy of all minors.

Another central aspect in the use of this new technology is that it can be accessible to girls and boys, who do not discriminate both in its content and in access, since equity in its use must be guaranteed.

Unicef ​​emphasizes that it must be used with transparency, with responsibility towards children and adolescents, who have the right to be explained what using AI entails.

At all times, he adds, the well-being of children, their interests and development must be prioritized, and it must be an obligation to prepare girls and boys for current and future advances in AI, given the risk that it affects any of their rights.

Highlights that the third edition of the Unicef ​​guide on artificial intelligence and children was driven by rapid advances in these technologies, such as generative AI, greater adoption of these systems by children, emerging opportunities and risks with respect to children’s rights; and changes in the governance landscape of this technological tool.

In this regard, it highlights the need to offer a clear framework for the application of closed AI in childhood, particularly given the risks that this new technology poses for children, if its development is not governed by principles that comply with the protection of children.