Your kids might be using AI even if you don't know it
Morning from Swan Valley — here's what matters in the northwest.
You know, sometimes the city makes decisions without really thinking about how they play out north of Dauphin. Take this talk about banning AI chatbots for kids under 16. The province is looking at it, but down in Winnipeg, at a place like General Wolfe School, they're actually using these same tools to teach students. It's a real head-scratcher when you consider that for us up here, technology often helps bridge the distances, not create more rules.
### Our Kids and AI
It brings up a good point for us in the valley. We're already seeing more technology in our schools, in places like Minitonas and Bowsman, and even right here at the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School. We're a long way from the provincial capital, and what works there for tech policy doesn't always make sense here. For us, access to tools, even AI, can be about making sure our kids have the same opportunities as those in the city.
* **Bridging the distance:** AI tools could offer learning resources that aren't always available in remote communities. * **Practical skills:** Learning how to use and understand AI might be a critical skill for jobs in forestry or agriculture, not just city offices. * **Community discussion:** It's worth talking about how these provincial decisions impact our own kids and their future right here in the valley.
We're not just consumers of technology; we're also innovators, adapting things to our own needs. If AI can help a student in Swan River learn something new, we should be careful about shutting that door just because Winnipeg is worried about screen time. Our kids are smart, and they know how to use tools responsibly, especially when those tools can help them thrive in a place that’s five hours from the big city.
The crew on the Morning Wire show always has a good take on these kinds of issues — you can hear them talk about it at mornings.live.