Use AI to Be More Kind, Not Less

Some kids use AI to be mean (deepfakes, harassment). The opposite is also true: AI can help you be MORE kind. Better thank-you notes, calmer disagreements, finding the right words for hard moments.

Some examples

• Use AI to write a heartfelt thank-you to a teacher who helped you.
• Use AI to draft an apology that is real, not defensive.
• Use AI to figure out what to say to a friend going through something hard.
• Use AI to make a kind comment under a friend's post (then add your real touch).

Try it!

Write a kind note to someone using AI for help. Send it. Notice how it feels.

AI can write mean messages, fake photos, and copy people's voices. Just because it can doesn't mean we should. Real friends never use AI to embarrass or trick people.

Some examples

• Don't ask AI to write a mean note about a classmate.
• Never make a fake photo of a friend without permission.
• Don't fake someone's voice to fool others.
• Ask: 'Would I want this done to me?'

Try it!

Think of one kind way you can use AI this week — like writing a thank-you poem for someone.

What to do when someone pressures you to use AI meanly

Sometimes it won't be your own idea to use AI in a harmful way — someone else will suggest it or dare you to do it. 'Just ask AI to write a mean message about [person]' or 'use AI to make a fake photo of [person].' In those moments, you're being asked to be the person who does the harmful thing, even if the idea wasn't yours. The consequences still follow the person who actually sends the message or posts the image. AI makes harmful content easy to create, but it doesn't make the harm less real. The best response to pressure like this is short and clear: 'No, I don't want to do that.' You don't need to explain yourself or give a big speech. You can also report the suggestion to a trusted adult, because a kid asking others to use AI to harm someone is itself a warning sign worth taking seriously.

• If someone asks you to use AI to create something mean, you're the one who faces consequences if you do it
• You don't owe anyone an explanation for refusing to use AI harmfully
• 'No, I don't want to do that' is a complete sentence
• Tell a trusted adult if someone is pressuring you or others to create harmful AI content

AI can write almost anything — including mean stuff. But mean words hurt real people, no matter who wrote them. Using AI to be cruel is still being cruel.

Some examples

• Don't ask AI to write mean messages about classmates.
• Don't use AI to make fun of someone's looks.
• Use AI to write a kind note instead.
• Tell a grown-up if someone uses AI to bully you.

Try it!

Ask AI to write a kind note for someone you know. Send it (or a version of it) to make their day better.

Why 'AI wrote it' is not an excuse

A common mistake kids (and some adults) make is thinking that because AI generated the words, the person who prompted it isn't responsible for the harm. That reasoning doesn't work. When you give AI a prompt asking it to write something mean about a specific person and then you send that message, you made every choice that mattered: you decided to do it, you directed the AI, and you delivered the result. AI is just the tool. The accountability stays with the person holding the tool. Schools, platforms, and parents are increasingly clear on this: using AI to produce harassing or bullying content toward a real person is treated as harassment, full stop. The same applies to fake images — using an AI tool to create a fake photo of a real classmate that's designed to embarrass them is cyberbullying, regardless of whether you drew it yourself or clicked a button.

• 'AI wrote it' is not a defense — you directed it and delivered it
• Prompting AI to create harassing content about a real person is still harassment
• AI-generated fake images of real people used to embarrass them is cyberbullying
• Tell a trusted adult immediately if someone uses AI to target you

Being polite with AI is good practice for being kind to people.

Some examples

• Saying 'please' and 'thank you' helps your habits
• Being mean to a chatbot can train mean habits in you
• AI does not have feelings — but you do
• Practicing kindness anywhere makes you kinder everywhere

Try it!

Next AI question, type 'please' at the start. See how it feels.