The growing disparity in AI comprehension among Gen Alpha indicates that the longer we delay, the more challenging it becomes to impart knowledge initially meant to be acquired from the very beginning.
As the digital world continues to evolve, the need for AI literacy education becomes increasingly important, especially for the younger generation. Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the way content is created and shared, and young people today must learn to distinguish what is real from what is generated by machines.
Children, especially those in Gen Alpha, are growing up with content realistic enough to trick experts. This level of realism makes it harder for them to tell if they are watching a person or a program pretending to be one. By the age of five or six, children typically understand that content defying basic logic is imaginary. However, AI-generated content removes the cues they rely on, making it more challenging for them to discern reality.
The lack of a unified national strategy for AI literacy education in schools is a concern. Education in Canada is largely under provincial jurisdiction, resulting in varied priorities and policies across provinces instead of a single federal approach. This inconsistency is troubling, as gaps in digital competence are tied to educational and civic outcomes.
Research shows that when teenagers lack the tools to evaluate digital information, it limits how they participate, learn, and make informed decisions online. School librarians have raised concerns about students' lack of foundational skills to critically assess AI-generated content. Many parents lack the knowledge, tools, or guidance needed to make informed choices about their children's exposure to AI tools and data collection.
The digital world is changing quickly, and AI literacy must become a priority for Canada to ensure the next generation grows up informed, capable, and confident in what they see. The groundwork for a stronger, more cohesive countrywide approach to AI literacy for youth should include a national K-12 AI strategy, required AI training for teachers, lessons on deepfakes, data rights, and consent, expanded access to bilingual AI literacy resources, and clearer labels on AI-generated content.
School boards in Ontario have begun piloting AI education initiatives, but there is still a need for more widespread adoption and support. A 2023 review of AI literacy efforts found that most programs neither assess what students understand nor give much attention to the broader socioeconomic consequences of poorly applied machine learning.
The use of AI tools in the classroom is also a concern. Less than half (48%) of educators interviewed felt equipped to use AI tools, while only some 46% of educators felt confident teaching responsible AI use, and 42% felt ready to teach students how to use artificial intelligence effectively.
The issue of AI-generated content is not just a matter of academic curiosity. In June 2025, Alberta police issued a provincewide warning after nearly 4,000 sexually explicit AI-generated deepfake images and videos of youth were reported between 2023 and 2024. This incident underscores the need for education and awareness about AI-generated content and its potential dangers.
Google Veo 3 is a tool that can generate high-resolution photorealistic videos with striking accuracy from a single text prompt. As technology continues to advance, it is crucial that we equip our youth with the skills they need to navigate this digital landscape. The digital world is changing quickly, and AI literacy must become a priority for Canada to ensure the next generation grows up informed, capable, and confident in what they see.
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