Raising AI kids

Time and time again, Philip Kotler, the father of marketing, will always be at the top of the list of marketing gurus. I had the privilege of joining him at a World Marketing Summit conference a couple of years ago and met him in person during my younger days.

Next on my list is the celebrated marketing expert Seth Godin. A year before the pandemic, I interviewed him in New York and offered to invite him to give a marketing seminar here. And being a straight-forward no-nonsense person, Seth said, “That’s not gonna happen.”

I wasn’t offended. I laughed and found it amusing. And he says he finds little sense in having to travel 20-plus hours to come here for a two-hour talk, then having to travel another 20-plus hours going back. This marketing guru really goes straight to the point.

I will meet him again and interview him in New York this year, and who knows? Perhaps he may change his mind and visit us here.

But the next marketing guru I totally respect and look up to is Mark Schaefer. He’s a consultant to many of America’s big companies, especially in the tech sector. He is an expert in the areas of personal branding, communications and marketing in an AI-driven world. He knows his stuff. There is a strong possibility that he will come and visit, share his expertise and knowledge with our business community.

Reading his column, Mark explored a topic in his podcast with Amanda Russell and together, they wrestled with the question many parents (and grandparents) are quietly asking:

What does it mean to raise children in an AI world?

This isn’t just about tech or business. This is about life. About the kind of people our children and grandchildren will become in an era where information is instant, abundant, and almost free.

Let me share their thoughts with you here.

Amanda, a teacher and mother, put it this way:

College is not just about memorizing facts or earning a diploma. It’s about learning to stay in rooms where you feel uncomfortable, to face hard things, to develop resilience and curiosity.

Mark echoed the same. Looking back on his own journey, he realized the most incredible lessons were not from textbooks, but from learning how the world works, how people work, and how to stay endlessly curious.

So does college still make sense when AI can teach us anything, anytime, for free?

The answer: yes — suppose you seek more than credentials.

If it’s just about checking a box, there are cheaper ways. But if it’s about perspective, connections, resilience, and discernment — then college still offers unique value.

Here’s the truth: our grandchildren will never know a world before AI. For them, screens will be as natural as electricity or running water.

The easy solution — like “limit screen time” — is already yesterday’s battle. The bigger questions are:

What are they learning?

How are they using these tools?

Are they building discernment, empathy, and critical thinking?

Because AI can give answers instantly, the danger is that we stop asking questions.

The antidote? Curiosity.

Curiosity is more than a soft skill — it is a superpower. It keeps us human. It sharpens our edge. It pushes us beyond comfort zones and into creativity.

Parents, teachers, leaders; this is what we must nurture most.

For those of us in business and marketing, this is not just a family issue. AI is changing our customers, too — how they learn, how they search, how they define truth.

Mark explains in his upcoming book, How AI Changes Our Customers, that we need to comprehend the new customer psychology instead of simply updating our marketing tools.

Customers in an AI-based environment will either seek genuine human connections more intensely or lose their instincts due to their reliance on automated solutions.

The challenge for leaders and marketers is clear: create meaning, trust, and connection when AI is everywhere, but humanity is in danger of getting lost.

It’s easy to slip into doom-and-gloom thinking about AI. But here’s what gives me hope, says Mark:

“Countless young people are already pushing back against the mindless use of technology. They want to preserve their voices, agency, and creativity. ‘’

So let’s not be afraid of raising “AI kids.”

Instead, let’s raise curious kids. Kids who ask better questions, discern truth from noise, connect with empathy, and never stop imagining.

As Mark Schaefer says, “Stay curious.” Teach curiosity. Lead with heart.

Ultimately, the greatest technology is still the human spirit.

Now you know why I totally admire Mark Schaefer and his marketing views. And I sure hope he will be with us next year and share his insights and wisdom.

Catch Kongversations with Francis on YouTube and all major podcast platforms—Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more. Plus, listen to Inspiring Excellence wherever you stream.