A Warning For Parents About AI

Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

2 Timothy 3:1-7 | 13-17 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth……But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Artificial Intelligence – two words that have swept the nation and are going to be a permanent fixture in society! We have used AI in many aspects of life even before it was popular. Companies have accessed it for years helping them with many areas. The vast expanse of what AI is capable of is definitely amazing! It will be used to help in such a variety of areas from medical research, to well, creating memes. The picture for this article was created by AI, so I understand there is so much it can do, and so much it can benefit. While this is interesting and I think we all have been enamored in various degrees by it, I want to issue a warning of caution to parents and teenagers on the topic. This is not an exhaustive study, but more a response from a Youth Pastor casually observing the pros and cons, and seeing how it has effected our society.

1. IT IS EASILY AVAILABLE TO ANYONE!

This is a very frightening part of Artificial Intelligence – there are no safeguards at all! Recently, as I was designing a picture for YPLife, I had downloaded an app on my phone to create a silly picture for a game graphic. I searched “AI Picture generators” and selected just the first one that popped up. The app was one that was rated 4+ years old! Wow, sad that 4 yr old was even an option as a rating, but I digress. So I downloaded the app and signed up for the free trial, which was as simple as clicking the side button of my phone twice. So, yes, your kids can download it that easy. It began by taking me through the opening pages of instructions and feature advertisements, and then to the opening page – where I could create anything I wanted. Their suggestions were funny – put your face on a knight in armor, ride a dragon for real, create your business profile, and so much more! It was a little frightening how easy it was to access all that. And especially made me take a step back as a Father and Youth Pastor – Kids deal daily with the insecurity of who they are and the fantasy of being something! Now kids and teens don’t have to use their imagination to be something, they can just upload their face to it and be whatever they want. They can look however they want. Adjust their body, face, etc. Put their face on someone else’s body.

2. Reimagine yourself! – This is the worst part of AI

Every kid dreams of being something when they grow up! Children and teens have imaginations of what life is. As soon as they put a cape on they picture themselves as really being Batman. They put on a suit coat and they are like their dad, or they put on a fireman’s hat and now they can fight fires! AI though has taken this farther, now you can see yourself literally as whatever you want. Which does lend to some funny and cool ideas! With AI for a knight themed event they can put their face on the body of a knight. For a super hero theme now they can put their face on HULK! While that is the fun and even neat ideas, with AI there is much more underneath the surface of that innocent fun.

On most if not all the AI Apps, there are so many different styles that a person can access and put their face or another’s face on. Some of the categories available to use are as follows: Bizarre, Cartoon, Fantasy, Movie Character, Business, Occupation, Theme, Yearbook, Horror, Fantasy RPG, Vacation, Beach, Dance, Face Swap, Hot, Sexy, FURRY, GENDER SWAP, KISS YOUR CRUSH, TAKE OFF CLOTHES! Not one of these is made up – these are all categories of characters that a person can swap with the face of themselves or someone they know on AI apps and websites. These apps can be downloaded by anyone 4+ years old! This is DANGEROUS STUFF! Other things are available on these apps like customizing pictures of themselves. Things like make yourself less fat, make your self more fit, make yourself hotter, adjust your body size, etc. – THESE ARE ALL FEATURES ON ALMOST EVERY APP! Kids and Teens DEFINITELY don’t need all that in their life. They are just trying to figure out who they are and now AI can make them or anyone they have a picture of do pretty much anything.

While we would be appalled and would not allow our kids watch wicked pornography – OBVIOUSLY – Every AI picture generator app or website has immodestly readily available and easily accessible. Many have access beyond immodesty to sensual, pornographic, and explicit material in seemingly innocent apps. And like any wile of the Devil it may not advertise the explicit stuff up front. It will mascaraed all that by putting the cute, innocent, funny stuff on the front page so it looks clean and silly.

That unfortunately is not where the story ends, as now on top of being exposed to explicit material, ANYONE can swap a face onto someone else’s picture or video! A teenager can get another classmate’s face and swap it onto an image or video. They can swap their own face and someone else’s face and make them kiss each other. I mean the Dangerous list can go on and on.

3. AI bots talk about anything and everything!

ChatGPT, Open AI, other bots, apps on phones will discuss anything and everything. Yes there are many things that are neat about ChatGPT – cool ideas, business tips, writing papers, etc. there are alot of really bad things also. With the openess of allowing any topic, a teenager can ask it about anything – really – suicide, sex, body image, anxiety, depression, etc. AND AI will answer.

Parents How to manage AI:

1. Be Aware – I’m not saying you have to be in on all the lingo and generational stuff, nor do you have to have an IT degree to know what’s going on! But you do need to be aware of what’s going on with the technology you have in your home, and the technology your kids have access to. Parents check your kids phone – its ok – its good. Let them check yours. Its ok to be accountable! But you have to know! It may seem innocent to them and it may be innocent, but you can see through the world’s guise and see where it ends up. Know their Passwords. Have your face ID on their phone.

2. Talk with them – Talking is becoming less and less frequent in our society and its BAD! Now we text instead of verbally communicating. Texting is good, but talking is better! The open communication can help them open up to you instead of AI or Google. They are going to ask someone or something – lets not let the world tell our kids how to act or think!

3. Keep the phone, computer, TV, Ipad out of bedroom – I understand this may sound like some old fogey – but its SAFE! One thing my parents did that I am thankful for as an adult and understood as a teen, was I had to charge my phone overnight upstairs in the living room. Not my room. Yes, almost all my friends kept theirs. And yes sometimes it felt weird and outdated. But I am thankful they did! It’s a lot easier to access wrong things when a teenager is all alone in their room even if the door is open. Just make it a rule to keep devices out of bedrooms!

Teens How to Manage AI:

1. Be AWARE – The devil is out to destroy you. Other PEOPLE are out to destroy you. Be aware of the wickedness and stay away. Your parents and Pastor who preach and teach are not out to destroy you! They love you – Be aware!

2. Talk to someone – a real person – Not Google or AI – THIS STARTS AT HOME!!! Your parents ought to be the first person that you talk to really about anything. God placed them in your life for a reason. They are wise and have gone through life as a teenager. They probably had the same type of questions that you have, so talk. NOT Text – talk! Not just about the uncomfortable things. Talk about everything. Then when the embarrassing or uncomfortable or unsure topics creep in it’ll be a lot easier to talk to your parents. Get counsel from GODLY Counselors – Ask your parents who they get counsel from. Ask them, “Is there anyone you would recommend I get Spiritual counsel from?” They probably will tell you the pastor or Youth Pastor, but you asking them that question is good! Then get counsel. Peers may seem like the right people to go to, but they are not. Your Parents, Preachers, Godly Counselors will help you!

3. Keep the phone, computer, tv, Ipad, whatever device(s) out of your room – I understand this may sound like some old fogey – but its SAFE! Everyone needs safeguards and boundaries. No matter what area of life you are talking about there are boundaries – school, work, sports, play, etc. Those boundaries are meant to keep you safe. So is this – I understand so much of life is on devices now a days – you’re using one right now to read this. But have some safe boundaries one of which is you just decide to keep devices out of your room

4. Get in the Bible – “Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.” -John Bunyan. This statement is powerful because it is TRUTH! Psalm 119:9 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” Young person keep yourself Daily in the Bible – Find out and care about what God thinks about more than man. Man didn’t create you, die for you, love you when no one else would – BUT GOD DID AND DOES! God cares for you. Get in His Book.

Yes, there are many good things that can be done with AI, but the dangers are beyond Sci-fi! In our Lifetime AI will grow and get better and more elaborate. It is not going to disappear, so use it for right! Beware of the wrong!

Caleb Young | Youth Pastor
Clays Mill Baptist Church | Lexington, KY