Google DeepMind research scientist Stefania Druga believes young people are using artificial intelligence in disappointing ways, primarily to complete homework assignments rather than as a tool for creative collaboration.“The way they’re using it right now, in my opinion, is really disappointing,” Druga told Business Insider. “But it’s not their fault.It’s the way these technologies were designed.”Druga, who created the AI education platform Cognimates, argues that students should be developing AI literacy “as early as they can speak” and learning to use AI tools as creative partners rather than homework solvers.
Education system needs overhaul to accommodate AI
According to Druga, the problem lies partly in outdated educational frameworks. “We should be changing the whole framework. First of all, if an AI can solve a test, it’s the wrong test,” she said.She believes assignments should be redesigned to be less cut-and-dried, making them more resistant to AI completion while encouraging critical thinking and creative problem-solving.“We need to change how we teach and assess,” Druga emphasized. “But we also need to change how we design these tools in order to make room for young people’s agency, young people’s creativity.”
Coding skills remain valuable despite rapid AI advancement
Despite concerns that “coding is dead,” Druga maintains that coding education remains valuable but requires a refresh. Rather than preparing students for specific tech roles that may soon be obsolete, she advocates teaching transferable skills that help people adapt to ambiguity.“What we’re seeing with AI right now — in large language models and other architectures that are coming after large language models — is that the technology is changing so fast,” she explained.Druga’s platform, Cognimates, takes a Socratic approach, posing questions to guide users without providing direct answers. This encourages children to develop their own projects and solutions, fostering a sense of ownership and pride in their work.“The goal is to make sure that everyone feels like this is for me,” she said, emphasizing the importance of making AI accessible to all young people r