Teaching the Next Generation to Master AI, Not Just Use It

Not long ago, coding and robotics camps were the popular choice for kids during the summer. This year, my daughter attended an AI summer camp. She loved it and came home excited to show me the simple game and website she created.

When I asked her if she understood what the generated JavaScript code was doing, she replied, "Not a chance."

As a developer, this was a moment of mixed feelings for me. On one hand, I was proud to see her build something on her own. AI helped her experiment and try different things she might not have attempted otherwise. On the other hand, it's concerning that the tool did all the heavy lifting, leaving out the fundamental part of understanding the code itself.

My hope for the next generation is that they learn to use AI as a powerful ally—a way to explore and create—but not as a crutch. True innovation comes from understanding the fundamentals, and that's a lesson that remains timeless, no matter how advanced our tools become.