Kaspersky Urges Responsible AI Use and Critical Thinking for Students Ahead of New School Year
As students return to classrooms, artificial intelligence has rapidly transitioned from a novel technology to an everyday educational tool used for research, drafting, and problem-solving. In response, global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky is urging parents and educators to instill responsible AI habits in children, emphasizing two critical pillars: critical thinking and personal data protection.
An Educational Assistant, Not a Replacement
Kaspersky warns that relying entirely on AI to complete assignments deprives students of essential learning and skill-building opportunities. Rather than prompting a chatbot to write a full essay or solve a math equation outright, students should utilize AI as a supplementary assistant to explain complex concepts, brainstorm ideas, review self-written drafts, or generate practice questions. The company encourages students to consistently cross-reference AI-generated explanations with official textbooks and reliable educational sources.
Mitigating "AI Hallucinations"
A primary risk in educational AI is the assumption that eloquently written outputs are inherently factual. AI models do not act as fact-checking search engines; they generate text based on learned data patterns. This can lead to "hallucinations"—plausible but entirely fabricated facts, fake references, or non-existent studies.
To combat this, Kaspersky recommends parents teach their children a five-question verification framework:
What is the source? Independently verify any referenced book, quote, or historical event.
Does the answer fit the prompt? Ensure the output directly addresses the assignment without irrelevant details.
Can I explain it? If the student cannot explain the AI's logic in their own words, they should not submit it as their own work.
Where else can I check? Cross-reference critical claims against official school materials.
Do I need an adult? Seek help from a parent or teacher if the information is confusing or touches on sensitive topics.
Data Privacy and Device Security
Beyond misinformation, generative AI platforms pose significant privacy risks. Students often mistake chatbots for private diaries. Kaspersky advises teaching children never to input full names, home addresses, passwords, financial data, or personal photos into AI platforms.
This digital awareness must be paired with foundational cybersecurity practices. Kaspersky recommends enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on student accounts, using strong passwords, and deploying reliable endpoint security solutions to block phishing attempts.
"AI can be a valuable educational tool when children use it to explore new topics, test their understanding, and refine drafts, rather than relying on it to do the work for them," said Andrey Sidenko, Head of Educational Programs and Cyber Literacy at Kaspersky. "Blindly accepting AI-generated answers is a major challenge. Parents must encourage children to verify facts, explain answers in their own words, and build resilient digital habits for the future."