Today’s children will navigate a world where AI is as natural as breathing

The kids born in the last few years are the first humans who have never known a world without AI. Let’s imagine how their lives will be a decade from now. It’s 2035, and everyone can see that this generation is entirely different. For them, ChatGPT isn’t a breakthrough; it’s as ordinary as Wi-Fi – just another invisible force that makes life easier, like electricity or parents paying for Netflix.

This is the AI Generation, and their mindset is nothing short of revolutionary. While older generations are still adjusting to asking chatbots for recipes, these kids are turning to AI for everything from homework help to existential advice. Information retrieval isn’t a skill; it’s a reflex. They’ve developed a superpower: asking precisely the right questions to coax the best responses from their digital co-pilots.

These young minds approach problems differently. They think in “if-then” loops, naturally blending human intuition with machine logic. Need a new idea? Run a quick brainstorming session with your AI buddy. Want to settle a debate? Feed both sides into a virtual argument simulator. To them, it’s not just collaboration – it’s cognitive choreography.

Culturally, they’re talented remixers of the human and the artificial. They use generative AI to compose music, design digital worlds, and craft poetry that is part algorithm, part soul. They create art that feels like a collaboration between human imagination and machine efficiency, leaving older generations wondering if it’s genuine or just another digital scam.

Of course, this seamless dance with technology has its downsides. Memory retention? Optional. Why bother when all knowledge is a voice command away? Sustained attention? Only until the entertainment algorithm interrupts with something cooler. They live in a world where authenticity is often questionable – was this song written by a person or a bot? Do they even care? Some do. Subcultures of AI purists are already emerging, insisting on analog experiences, print books, and conversations without predictive text.

Their attitudes are pragmatic and algorithmic. They navigate life with the help of recommendation engines, trust machine learning over institutions, and see data sharing not as a choice but as a lifestyle. They understand the trade-offs, often better than their parents, who still hesitate over cookie consent pop-ups (old habits die hard).

Yet, the real divide in this generation isn’t about technology but access to it. Those with premium AI subscriptions breeze through academic and creative challenges, while others make do with ad-supported versions or none at all. The digital divide is no longer just about bandwidth but intelligence and opportunity.

In the end, this generation might not be smarter or dumber – just differently wired. Their cognitive toolkit is built for a world where information is cheap but judgement is rare. They’re less about knowing the answers and more about knowing what to ask. Whether this makes them visionaries or tech-zombies remains an open question, but one thing is certain: they’ll ask AI about it before deciding.

What do you think? How are you addressing the issue of determining what’s trustworthy when you are online?  Share your thoughts in the comments below – I’d love to hear from you.

Note:

This newsletter is written in collaboration and constant dialogue with several AI tools, which I describe in my books as “today’s best storytelling assistants”. Nonetheless, all views expressed here are my own.