Imagine your child using artificial intelligence not just to interact with the world—but to shape it. What if they could design a program that could detect how well a steak is cooked by using a single photo? Or build a tool that recognizes American Sign Language in real time? These aren’t just lofty sci-fi dreams. They’re real projects created by real iD Tech kids, and they all started with one thing: curiosity about AI.
Today’s students aren’t just hearing about artificial intelligence—they’re learning how to build it. And in the process, they’re discovering that AI isn’t something to fear—it’s something to understand, explore, and even master.
AI isn’t something to fear—it’s a tool. And students like Nolan T. are using it to do amazing things
At 16 years old, Nolan T. is already thinking about the future—not just his own, but the future of how humans and technology can work together. A returning iD Tech student, Nolan recently completed AI and Machine Learning Academy with NVIDIA at Stanford University. What he discovered wasn’t just the power of AI—it was the power of his own creativity.
“AI is something everyone is talking about, so I wanted to learn more. It feels like it’s taking over the world—it’s everywhere, so I wanted to learn more,” Nolan shared. “Being able to learn through that course was fantastic.”
For Nolan, like many students today, AI isn’t some abstract concept, it’s something tangible. Real. Accessible. Through project-based learning, he didn’t just hear about how AI works—he built his own model, applied it to a real-world problem, and saw it in action.
“My project was to create a program that detects the temperature of a steak—rare to medium well to well done—so you could take a picture of a steak and it would tell you how it’s cooked,” he explained. “Other kids made American Sign Language detectors. There were so many things people made. There is no limit.”
That phrase - there is no limit - perfectly captures what happens when students are given the space, tools, and mentorship to explore cutting-edge technology. It’s also a message to parents: AI isn’t just something for tech companies or college-level research. With the right guidance, kids and teens can tap into the world of AI today.
So how do you start?
The good news is that you don’t need a degree in computer science to support your child’s curiosity in AI. Here are some easy ways to make it part of their everyday world:
1. Reinforce AI as an essential skill
One of the most important things parents can help their kids understand is this: AI shouldn’t replace their thinking, it should support it. While it might be tempting to ask an AI tool for the answer to a homework question, the real value comes from using it to check their work or deepen understanding in a topic they’re researching. In fact, some of the best moments in Nolan’s journey came from building something from scratch and seeing how the pieces connected. As he put it:
“AI made us feel like we could do anything.”
By encouraging your child to approach AI as a skill to develop, rather than a shortcut, you’ll be helping them learn to use it wisely, creatively, and responsibly. When kids understand the difference, they’ll transform from passive consumers of tech to active creators of new possibilities.
2. Demystify AI
There’s a lot of fear and confusion about what AI is and what it might become. Nolan’s experience helped him break down the mystery:
“AI and Machine Learning was pretty easy to pick up! The iD Tech curriculum was laid out so we could make our own models. But AI is something that has to be trained. You have to feed it pictures of what you want it to detect. A lot of people think that AI is going to take over the world and be able to become its own thing, but what stood out to me was that as humans, we have to train the models. AI is not something we should fear.”
This kind of understanding helps kids become not just users of AI—but thoughtful creators and problem-solvers who will pave the way for its future. It also reinforces that AI is not a replacement for learning, it’s a partner in learning when used the right way.
3. Talk about how behind AI
If your child uses tools like ChatGPT or Gemini, talk to them about how those tools work. Ask them what they think is going on behind the scenes—and remind them that while these tools can be helpful, they should never replace effort or deep understanding. According to Nolan:
“When you look at ChatGPT, its pool of knowledge is endless. And AI generated images can make so many things. It’s come such a long way, and it’s continuing to develop rapidly. It’s incredible.”
These everyday interactions with AI are powerful opportunities to spark deeper conversations. Instead of focusing solely on what AI can do, guide your child to think about how it works, what it’s learning from, and what its limitations might be. These moments can lay the foundation for a much deeper understanding—and curiosity—about AI’s role in our world.
4. Encourage continued hands-on experimentation
After camp, Nolan didn’t stop learning. He kept exploring:
“After I took AI and Machine Learning Academy with NVIDIA, I fiddled around with the model I made when I got home. I loved the experience and after camp I feel like I could continue experimenting with the knowledge I learned there.”
That kind of independent curiosity shows that using AI well is a skill in itself—and one that improves with continued practice and experimentation.
5. Reframe AI as a tool—not a threat
At iD Tech, we understand how AI might feel intimidating. There are so many headlines focusing on how it’s reshaping industries and replacing jobs. But students who learn to work with AI will gain a more empowered perspective. One of the most powerful takeaways from Nolan’s story is the mindset shift:
“AI is not something to be scared of. It’s a tool. It’s not something we should work against—it’s something we need to work with. It’s not something that’s going to fight us—it’s something that’s going to make us better. If we keep developing it and learning about it, then we can use it to make amazing things.”
Hands-on learning shows that AI needs human input, guidance, and training. The most effective uses of AI happen when it’s used to enhance creativity, improve efficiency, and support learning—not replace it. From pushing ideas to automating repetitive tasks, AI can be a powerful partner when students are taught to think critically about when and how to use it. By reframing AI as a tool—like a calculator or a search engine—kids learn that it’s not something to fear. AI is something to use as a tool to build a brighter future.
Where curiosity meets capability
At iD Tech, we believe that students like Nolan don’t just represent the future of tech—they’re the ones already shaping it. We’re here to demystify complex topics, foster creativity, and spark a sense of confidence that they’ll carry for the rest of their lives.
“If you’re on the fence about AI, it’s something you’ve got to look into,” Nolan said. “It’s taking over a lot of things, and having an understanding of it is everything.”
Whether your child is into gaming, robotics, coding, and more, there’s a path into AI that meets them where they are—and shows them where they can go. AI isn’t going anywhere, so it’s time to get on board. And with the right guidance, AI isn’t something to fear. It’s something to build with.