Artificial intelligence was once just science fiction, something we imagined in films about robot rebellions and futuristic takeovers. Back then, these stories entertained us more than they concerned us. But AI has quietly shifted from fiction into everyday reality. It now shapes what we see on social media, helps us plan our days through voice assistants, and powers countless behind-the-scenes processes in our lives.
This quiet rise has sparked something louder: fear. Headlines now warn that “AI will take your job,” “AI will destroy education,” or “AI is dangerous and uncontrolled.” These claims feed anxiety and mistrust, often presenting AI as a looming threat.
But what if we’ve misunderstood the role AI plays at this stage? Rather than seeing it as a monster, what if we viewed it as a child?
AI is still learning. It mimics human behaviour, recognises patterns, and generates language based on what it’s been trained on. Yet it doesn’t actually understand the world. It has no awareness, no morality, and it makes mistakes. Its output is shaped by the data it receives which often includes human flaws and biases. In many ways, it behaves more like a toddler trying to make sense of things than a powerful, conscious entity.
And just like a child, AI needs our guidance.
Take education, for example. Tools like ChatGPT have caused concern in schools and universities. Some worry students will use AI to cheat or avoid thinking for themselves. While some institutions have responded with bans, others are trying to integrate AI more thoughtfully. The panic is understandable, but perhaps not helpful.
Rather than reacting with fear, we should reframe the issue. Students can be taught how to use AI responsibly. In fact, the limitations of AI, its overuse of lists, repetitive style, or weak comparisons are usually easy to spot. These flaws offer a chance to teach students how to spot poor reasoning, question sources, and think more deeply.
By encouraging critical use of AI, educators can strengthen students’ analytical skills. Learning how AI works, where it fails, and how to improve its output turns it into a learning partner, not a shortcut. In today’s world, helping students understand AI is just as important as shielding them from it.
Concerns about AI replacing jobs follow the same pattern. These fears dominate headlines, but they overlook a key point: AI doesn’t work alone. It needs people to design, build, train, and monitor it. New roles are already emerging, roles that require human insight, creativity, and judgement.
And there are many things AI simply can’t do. It doesn’t grasp nuance, can’t feel empathy, and can’t make ethical decisions on its own. These are essential human qualities that technology can’t replicate. So, instead of treating AI as an unstoppable force, we need to see it as something we shape and take ownership for doing so responsibly.
When AI reflects bias, the fault lies in the data it learns from, data created by us. In areas like mortgage lending, historical inequalities are often baked into datasets. If we ignore this, AI will reinforce those same injustices. That’s not a reason to abandon AI, it’s a reason to be more involved in how it develops. We must work to explain the history and to make sure discrimination and bias are not repeated in the future models that AI creates.
Raising AI, like raising a child, means setting boundaries, giving feedback, and offering care. It means taking responsibility for how this technology grows.
AI doesn’t evolve separately from us; it mirrors our decisions, values, and priorities. If we treat it with fear, we risk creating something we don’t understand. But if we treat it with care and accountability, we have a chance to shape it for the better.
So, instead of asking whether AI is dangerous, let’s ask the real question: Are we raising it the right way?
Zorina Alliata, Professor of Responsible AI at OPIT – Open Institute of Technology