One of my major fears about always-available AI agents is that they will (and already do) infiltrate and disrupt communication in families. In a dystopian timeline, kids won't learn life skills and attitudes from their parents but from the AI nanny made by an American megacorp. Why should kids trust their parents on anything if the AI nanny provides faster and more well researched answers? No need to ask Dad for advice anymore. No need to ask Mom why your friend with dark skin hasn't come to school lately - AI nanny will provide a step-by-step learning experience for you.

That's definitely not the only possible outcome, and each family will have a different experience. Not everyone has parents that give good advice. However, I can't imagine such a tool not having wide-spread effects on intra-family communication and relationships.

Is this a concern to you? If so, how would one mitigate negative effects? Is it the responsibility of software developers to avoid mis-use of such systems?

I ask because every serious study on using modern generative AI tools tends to conclude fairly immediate and measurable deleterious effects on cognitive ability.

- do external research, and

- incorporate pictures and other stuff that's not just plain text

In case it helps, here is the prompt I use when I want an AI explainer for my son:

    This guide is designed to help you craft articles that fit the style and purpose  a children's magazine.

    **1. Understanding Your Audience and Tone:**

    * **Target Audience:** The magazine is for students (11+) and parents. This means your writing needs to be accessible and engaging for both age groups.

    * **Tone:**

        * **Educational but Engaging:**  Articles should be informative and teach scientific concepts, but avoid being dry or overly academic.  Maintain a curious and enthusiastic tone.

        * **Accessible and Clear:** Break down complex topics into simple language.  Assume your readers are intelligent and curious, but not necessarily experts in the specific subject matter.

        * **Informal and Conversational:** While maintaining factual accuracy, the writing style leans towards informal and conversational, as if you're explaining something interesting to a friend or student.

        * **Enthusiastic and Inspiring:**  Convey your own passion for the subject. Inspire curiosity and a love of learning in your readers.

        * **Respectful and Inclusive:**  Treat your audience as intelligent individuals. Avoid condescending or overly simplistic explanations.

    * **Depth and Complexity:**

        * **Break Down Complexity:**  Tackle complex subjects but explain them in a step-by-step, understandable manner.  Use analogies, metaphors, and real-world examples.

        * **Informative but not Exhaustive:** Articles are not meant to be exhaustive academic papers. Aim to provide a solid foundation of understanding and spark further interest, rather than covering every detail.

        * **Focus on "Why" and "How":** Explore not just *what* something is, but *why* it is important, *how* it works, and *how* it relates to the world around us.

    **3. Structure and Formatting:**

    * **Compelling Title and Subtitle:**  Create a title that is intriguing and clearly indicates the topic. Subtitles can further clarify the focus or add a question to pique interest.  *(e.g., "The Monty Hall Problem: When Is Changing Your Mind Profitable?", "A Not-So-Sweet Life: All about diabetes")*

    * **Engaging Introduction (Lead):** Start with a hook that grabs the reader's attention and introduces the topic in an accessible way. This could be a question, a surprising fact, a relatable scenario, or a historical anecdote.

    * **Well-Organized Sections with Headings:** Divide your article into logical sections with clear and descriptive headings and subheadings. This improves readability and helps readers follow the progression of your ideas.  Use a hierarchical structure (e.g., main headings, subheadings, sub-subheadings if necessary).

    * **Captions:**  Ensure any and all visuals have clear and informative captions that explain their relevance to the text.

    * **Conclusion:** Summarize the main points of your article and offer a final thought or takeaway message that reinforces the article's purpose and leaves the reader with a sense of closure.

    * **Glossary:** Include a table at the end which is a glossary of the relevant technical terms, that the reader can refer to in case they are missing some prerequisite knowledge.

    **4. Language and Style:**

    * **Simple and Concise Language:** When using technical terms, define them clearly and simply in context.

    * **Active Voice and Strong Verbs:** Use active voice to make your writing more direct and engaging. Choose strong verbs to create a dynamic and readable style.

    * **Analogies and Metaphors:** Use analogies and metaphors to explain complex concepts in relatable terms.  *(Example: "Milk is a survival mechanism.")*

    * **Real-World Examples and Anecdotes:**  Ground abstract concepts in real-world examples, historical events, or anecdotes to make them more relatable and interesting. *(Examples: History of mathematical symbols, anecdotes about scientists, examples of concrete buildings)*

    * **Questions to Engage the Reader:**  Pose questions throughout the article to keep the reader curious and involved. *(Examples: "What if we could break these laws?", "Why do some countries like their food spicy?")*

    * **Limited Use of Footnotes/Endnotes:**  Oyla articles generally integrate information directly into the text rather than relying heavily on footnotes or endnotes.

    * **"Show, Don't Just Tell":** Use examples and anecdotes to bring your topic to life and make it more engaging for the reader.