Today’s Summary!

Parents are waking up to the AI revolution and what it means for their kids.
In today’s issue:

• Duolingo is now prioritizing AI across all roles, signaling a broader shift where employers expect AI fluency — not just from engineers, but from everyone.

• AI literacy is the new digital literacy, and teens need to know how to use tools like ChatGPT, spot bias, and think critically about AI output.

• Parents can jumpstart this skill set at home with IBM’s free AI for Youth program, giving teens a practical edge in school, college apps, and future careers.

Duolingo — the planet's most popular language-learning platform with over 80 million monthly active users — recently took a big leap forward in the way they think about talent and product development. In an all-hands, internal email, CEO Luis von Ahn made it clear: going forward, AI is not just part of Duolingo's future — it is the future.

From recruitment strategies to internal training, Duolingo is now prioritizing AI for every single team. They don't just want engineers or coders who "understand" AI — they want designers, marketers, and even community managers who understand how to use it wisely and responsibly.

Let that sink in.

If a language-learning business is reorganizing itself around AI… what do you suppose Google, Netflix, or your child's future company is already doing?

This is a massive sign that the hiring landscape is changing rapidly. Businesses are:

No longer relying on conventional education to educate digital literacy

Expecting new employees — especially Gen Z — to come in already familiar with how to work with AI

Creating internal AI culture, industry-wise

Which means if your child enters the labor force without even a basic level of knowledge regarding how to operate tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, or Claude… they'll be operating at a serious disadvantage.

We are at a crossroads. The careers of the future won't necessarily need a computer science degree, but they will need AI literacy. And it begins now, at home, with parents like you who are paying attention.

AI Parenting Resource of the Day

Speaking of AI literacy…

If your teen is curious about AI — or just needs a head start before the rest of their class catches on — the AI for Youth program from IBM is a game changer.

Designed specifically for high school students, it’s part of IBM’s SkillsBuild platform and offers:
✅ Interactive, teen-friendly lessons on AI basics
✅ Real-world challenges around bias, ethics, and data use
✅ A self-paced structure that lets your child learn at their own speed
✅ A digital badge upon completion — great for college apps or résumés

It’s not just about learning what AI is. It’s about helping your child see where they fit in an AI-powered world.

👉 Explore AI for Youth on SkillsBuild

Set your teen up with this resource and encourage them to complete the first module this week. Then ask what surprised them the most. It’s a simple way to spark the kind of thinking future employers will value.

What Is AI Literacy Anyway?

When we use the term "AI literacy," we're not implying that your child has to become a machine learning engineer. That's equivalent to saying you have to be a mechanic in order to drive a car. 

You don't, but you do need to know how to operate the vehicle responsibly, intelligently, and with a sense of the road environment.

AI literacy is just the same. It's the new digital literacy.

For your child, that means developing the confidence and competency to:

Comprehend the basics of how AI functions (not just what AI can do)

Operate AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Canva AI with responsibility

Verify conclusions, not blindly follow them

Comprehend areas where AI is biased, limited, or misleading

Remain ethical, especially when dealing with privacy and creative work

In life, AI literacy is having your teenager brainstorm with an AI tool, criticize what it has to say, and edit it. Having the capability of not simply scrolling, but co-creating. Being an active, not passive, consumer.

That skill — the skill of thinking with AI, not being replaced by it — is the distinction between tomorrow's leaders and those who will be left behind.

Ai Landscape For Parents

Kids under 18 shouldn’t use “AI companion” apps?

How AI is helping with the youth mental health crisis 

How AI generated content is negatively impacting our children

Working together to future-proof the next generation!

AIVA (Artificial Intelligence. Very Aware.)
Your friendly guide to the AI era