By Zak Ringelstein, CEO and Founder of Zigazoo
Artificial Intelligence is no longer science fiction – it’s our present and our future. Whether we like it or not, AI is transforming how we work, communicate, and learn. The question is not if our children will grow up in an AI world, but how prepared they will be to navigate and lead it.
At Zigazoo, the world’s largest social network for kids, we recently found that 41% of children are already using ChatGPT. That statistic should give us pause. Our kids are exploring AI before most adults fully understand its capabilities or consequences. This makes AI education for American children an urgent priority.
The stakes are high. If children are not empowered to understand AI, they risk becoming its victims. We are already seeing challenges with chatbot manipulation, AI-driven addiction, and the spread of misinformation due to “hallucinations” and model drift. This is not simply a question of technological literacy, it is a safety and ethics issue.
It is incumbent upon us to ensure our kids are not being shaped passively by AI, but instead that they are active shapers of it. AI must not be something that happens to them; it must be something they can control, question, and ultimately use to build a better future.
I am impressed by the new AI Education Executive Order, led by Michael Kratsios, which places a strong emphasis on empowering America’s students to own and operate AI in creative, ethical, and solution-oriented ways. This initiative positions our youth not just as consumers of AI, but as its architects.
Zigazoo is proud to be part of this national movement. Recently, we were honored to be selected by the White House as a featured participant in Our Pledge to America’s Youth: Investing in AI Education, a landmark initiative led by the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Standing alongside leaders like Sam Altman of OpenAI and Sundar Pichai of Google, I was inspired by our shared commitment to preparing the next generation for an AI-driven future.
As part of this effort, Zigazoo is launching the first-ever AI short-form video curriculum for grades K-12. This innovative program will culminate in a nationwide AI Science Fair, giving students the opportunity to showcase their ideas and inventions to peers across the country. The grand prize winners will present at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, the world’s largest education innovation conference.
This is more than a competition, it’s a movement to ensure that America’s youth are equipped to lead in the global AI economy. Our competitors in China and India are investing heavily in AI education. If we want American children to thrive in this rapidly changing world, we must do the same.
Kids need great AI education now in order to develop the critical thinking skills required to tame AI in their own lives and shape our collective AI future. At Zigazoo, we are committed to ensuring that Gen Alpha and beyond are not only safe in an AI world but also fully equipped to lead it.
