As the UAE continues to lead the region in educational innovation, recent reforms have seen artificial intelligence (AI) education introduced across public schools in the country. With this bold move, the Ministry of Education is preparing today’s students for a rapidly transforming future, one where AI may be as integral to daily life as the internet is today.
For parents across the UAE, this development presents both exciting opportunities and new responsibilities. How can families support children to engage with AI in a meaningful, ethical and effective way? How do we ensure that AI becomes a tool for learning and not a shortcut to avoid it? Connector spoke to experts in the UAE education sector to break it down and help you connect the dots on how you can navigate the problematics of AI while helping your child use it the right way.
Why Teaching AI Matters
AI is no longer just the stuff of science fiction, as it is becoming a foundational part of modern life. Teaching children about AI early on is not just about using technology. It’s about nurturing a whole new form of literacy.
Baz Nijjar, Vice President, Education Technology and Digital Innovation at GEMS Education says, "Introducing AI early helps children understand the technology shaping their future. Teaching children about AI nurtures digital confidence, critical thinking, and ethical awareness. It enables them to distinguish between fact and machine-generated fiction, while equipping them to solve real-world problems using data and logic, which are transferable skills and don't require a digital device to teach or learn".
"Young learners also begin to grasp the societal impact of AI, from automation to decision-making, encouraging them to ask not only 'how does this work?' but also 'should it be used this way?'. By learning through AI, and learning about AI, children are empowered to actively shape their world, as opposed to being shaped by it", adds Baz Nijjar from GEMS Education.
Dr. Michael Bartlett, Superintendent at Dubai Modern Education School, agrees, and adds, "The benefits of teaching AI for this generation are unlimited. Exposure to the many facets of AI in a safe environment is vital, since it allows the students to learn there are practically no limits at the moment. Skills in using AI are very important, just as we learnt multiplication or punctuation. This should be no different".
The Parent's Role: Awareness And Partnership
With this ongoing paradigm shift in education, parents are no longer just observers. They are active participants in their child's growth and engagement with modern technology and digital world.
Dr. Michael Bartlett from Dubai Modern Education School says, "As a parent of 4 children myself, the importance of the parent's role is in awareness. Awareness of what areas of AI their kids are using allows the parents to be educated on what boundaries to set or what guidance they can give".
Baz Nijjar from GEMS Education also underlines the importance of awareness, and also believes that parents should be co-learners, encouraging open conversations about what AI is, how it works, and when it’s helpful and when it may replace real thinking.
"At home, parents can explore AI tools alongside their children by reviewing outputs together, asking important questions like 'How did the AI come up with this?' and 'What prompts can we ask to generate a better output?', and helping children see AI as a thought partner, not a shortcut. Parents can reinforce that AI is most powerful when it helps students learn, not when it simply gives answers. Creating a culture of curiosity, not convenience, ensures that children use AI to enhance, and not erode, their educational journey", adds Baz Nijjar from GEMS Education.
Experts also note that parents can help their children by sharing simple examples of how they use AI in their workplaces. Even as parents themselves are ion the journey of learning AI, helping one's children use AI effectively can be beneficial, and learning the scope, limits and dangers of using AI can be navigated in partnership.
Learning With, Not From, AI
One of the key messages both experts underline is that AI should not replace human thinking. While tools like ChatGPT or other AI writing assistants can help children research, brainstorm or test their ideas, they should never be used to produce final work. As Dr. Michael Bartlett from Dubai Modern Education School says, "Just like the old copy and paste buttons, learning when to use and when not to use it should be at the forefront".
In a world of shortcuts and instant results, it’s easy for children to become overly reliant on AI to complete homework or tasks. However, both experts emphasise that this undermines the real purpose of learning and also encourages parents to help their children understand that integrity matters more than perfection.
"Misusing AI to complete homework undermines their learning and their values. Instead, AI can be used to break down an answer or give feedback and suggestions, especially on topics that a parent may not have enough knowledge about. This provides parents with an opportunity to co-learn with their children and be part of their education. Parents can set the tone by discussing why learning how to think is more important than simply knowing what the answer is", says Baz Nijjar from GEMS Education.
Encourage your children to use AI as a learning companion by asking it for ideas, definitions, or feedback, but also ensure that they are still producing their own work. Experts also note that this is a conversation that should also happen in schools. "It shouldn’t be done alone. There needs to be a partnership between the school and the family", suggests Dr. Michael Bartlett from Dubai Modern Education School.
Practical Tips For Parents
So how can you, as parents, translate these ideas into everyday habits? Here are some expert-backed tips:
1. Co-use AI tools: For younger children especially, parents should use AI tools alongside their children. This helps monitor usage and opens space for discussion.
2. Define AI’s role: Be clear that AI is there to support learning, not to replace the hard work of understanding or creativity.
3. Set healthy time limits: AI tools should complement traditional study habits, not replace them entirely. So, set time limits on how long your child can spend on AI for learning, while encouraging them to spend more time on recollection and reflection.
4. Ask about the process: Instead of asking if the homework is done, ask how AI was used, and what was learnt from it. Ask your children to explain to you what the AI response says without using any of the words it used.
5. Question the output: Teach children to critically evaluate AI answers for reliability, tone or bias. Encourage them to correct AI when they learn from elsewhere that the answers were wrong or inappropriate.
6. Use AI to empower, not replace: Encourage children to use AI when they’re stuck, not when they’re simply trying to finish faster.
7. Praise the process: Celebrate the effort and thought process, not just the finished product.
The truth is, many parents in the UAE didn’t grow up with the kind of technology their children are using now, and that’s okay. As pointed out, being a digital expert isn’t a requirement for being an excellent digital parent.
As the UAE integrates AI into its education system, the journey of learning is evolving. But the core values of education, including integrity, curiosity and critical thinking, remain the same. With schools and families working hand in hand, children in the UAE can learn to use AI not as a crutch, but as a springboard for creativity, learning and growth.