Young People and AI: A Changing Landscape of Learning and Work

When I asked a group of high school students how they use AI, I expected to hear about ChatGPT. Instead, they talked about Snapchat. At the dismay and disgust of my teen daughter, I've begun a

book project using Google Notebook LM. I’ve been conducting interviews with students of various educational backgrounds to explore their current AI usage and their perspectives on how AI will transform jobs over the next five years.

AI in Everyday Student Life

One of the most intriguing insights from my interviews is that many jr. high students primarily interact with AI through social media platforms. For example, my 14-year-old daughter and several of her friends use AI-powered chatbots within Snapchat. Rather than turning to ChatGPT directly, they engage with Snapchat’s built-in AI model, often using it to edit writing, assist with math homework, or simply answer questions. While these interactions are relatively basic, they demonstrate how seamlessly AI has integrated into their daily lives—often without them even realizing they are using an advanced technology.

So, I started an account and did a touch of research. As of September 2024, Snapchat's AI chatbot, My AI, is powered by Google's Gemini model. A change from their initial launch, when the app used OpenAI's GPT model (oh snap).

AI in Higher Education: The Divide Between Adoption and Restriction

At the university level, AI engagement becomes more complex. I recently spoke with two public health students from Purdue University. One is actively incorporating AI into her internship, where I am assisting her in developing an AI-powered brand guide and custom tools for a nonprofit. This innovative approach involves training a large language model to generate content that aligns with the organization’s voice, tone, and style. When completed, this system will allow nonprofit staff to quickly create blog posts, social media content, and other materials that maintain consistency and professionalism in a snap (see what I did there? :)

In contrast, the second student I spoke with was initially wary of AI due to institutional restrictions. She mentioned that at Purdue, some professors prohibit AI use altogether, with strict policies that could even result in expulsion. Her concerns extended beyond academic integrity; she was deeply interested in AI’s environmental impact, its role in democratizing knowledge, and ethical concerns regarding access to AI-driven medical advancements.

Bridging the AI Literacy Gap

These conversations highlight a critical issue: the stark contrast between how AI is being embraced in technical and scientific fields versus the hesitation seen in the humanities and social sciences. Some educators fear AI will be misused for academic dishonesty, leading them to impose strict bans rather than accepting the inevitable and adapting their teaching style to meet the market. The reality is that AI is not going away—if anything, its influence is accelerating. Instead of prohibiting its use,

institutions should focus on AI literacy, ensuring students learn how to use it effectively and ethically.

When I introduced one of the Purdue students to ChatGPT’s advanced voice mode, demonstrating its ability to translate spoken Spanish into English in real-time, I could see her skepticism waver. It was a tangible example of AI’s potential to enhance education, particularly for students with learning differences or language barriers. Later, I helped her develop a custom GPT model to streamline her LinkedIn content creation, showing her how AI can work as an ally rather than an adversary.

The Future is Closer Than We Think

At the end of our conversation, I asked her how soon she believed AI would dramatically reshape the workforce. She responded, “A lot sooner than most people think.” This statement resonates deeply with me. Not long ago, I would have estimated that major AI-driven shifts in employment were five years away. Now, I believe we may see profound economic changes within two to three years. What we are currently witnessing is Moore's Law on steroids.

Move 37: AI is reshaping industries, redefining careers, and transforming education at a pace few anticipated. The conversations I’m having with students highlight the urgency of fostering AI literacy—not just to prevent misuse, but to equip the next generation with the skills to thrive in an AI-driven world.

Moore's Law Cubed

Join the Conversation

If you or someone you know—whether in K-12, higher education, or trade school—is willing to share their thoughts on AI and the future of work, I would love to hear from them. Parental consent will be required for younger participants, but all perspectives are valuable.

Feel free to reach out to me at jason@bydesignx.org. Let’s shape the conversation together.

Jason Padgett

AI Human Collaboration Coach

Composition assistance: ChatGPT 4 turbo, Perplexity.ai

Image assistance: Canva, Ideogram.ai, Pexels.com, Google Gemini via Snapchat