Rethinking Education in the Age of Generative AI

The phrase “don’t copy from the internet” used to be a golden rule in classrooms. But what happens when the internet starts generating answers just for you, instantly, in perfect grammar, and tailored to your tone? With the rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, DALL·E, and GitHub Copilot, the way young people interact with knowledge is fundamentally shifting. Instead of simply searching for information, students are now prompting, refining, and co-creating with AI models.

For educators, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Traditional models of assessment, essays, homework, even coding assignments, are being disrupted. It’s no longer enough to ask what a student knows; we now have to ask how they think, adapt, and engage with technology.

So, is AI “cheating”? Or is it the beginning of a new kind of learning?

At its best, AI can support youth in becoming more curious, expressive, and capable of critical thinking. It can help them explore topics in multiple languages, visualize complex ideas, and receive instant feedback without fear of judgment. Used ethically, AI becomes a learning assistant, not a shortcut.

But without digital literacy and proper guidance, AI can also flatten creativity, reinforce bias, or turn education into an endless copy-paste loop.

This is why digital education needs an upgrade, not just with new tools, but with new values: curiosity over correctness, collaboration over memorization, and creativity over repetition.

Young people today aren’t just consumers of AI, they’re shaping its role in society. And to do that well, they need more than just access. They need the skills, confidence, and space to experiment, fail, reflect, and build with AI.

In the age of generative AI, the real question is not “Can youth use AI?”
It’s “Can youth use AI meaningfully, ethically, and creatively?”

Let’s help them answer with a loud yes.