"The problem with that is it's giving us a false sense of knowledge where if we lose that connection to look it up you become GPT stupid " - Jeffery Banek

From Deepfakes to Homework Help: What Every Parent Needs to Know About AI and Their Kids

When I first announced that I was hosting a Family AI Summit, people gave me that look — the one that says, “Wait, what?”

“A summit about AI... for families?”

Yup. Because while the rest of the world is busy arguing about robots stealing jobs or whether kids should use ChatGPT for homework, almost no one is talking about what’s really happening inside our homes and classrooms.

And even fewer are asking the unspoken questions — the ones parents whisper about but rarely say out loud.

The Questions Parents Are Too Scared to Ask

When I gathered our global panel of experts, I brought these questions to the table — not as an AI educator, but as a mom. Because these are the questions keeping parents up at night:

These are questions I asked our experts, and many other important questions.

• What are the effects are of AI on kids brains?

• What is your view on deep fakes and how can parents make children aware of that?

• What do you think is the dangers of using AI as a therapist?

• What advice do you have for parents when it comes to AI and mental health for their well again for their children?

• Will kids lose their creativity when they use AI?

• How do parents support their child using AI in an ethical way?

• How would you use AI as a teaching assistant for your children?

This summit wasn’t about technology for technology’s sake. It was about us - the parents trying to raise grounded, thoughtful kids in a world that’s spinning faster every year. The kids who are already five steps ahead of us, building entire digital lives before we’ve even figured out how to use new settings on our phones. And the educators and business owners doing their best to stay human while everything around them turns digital.

That’s why I hosted the Family AI Summit. Because parents needed a space to breathe, ask honest questions, and hear straight answers from people who live and work in this space every day.

No tech jargon. No fear mongering. Just truth.

AI isn’t the enemy. Ignorance is. And this summit was about closing that gap before it swallows another generation whole.

A Summit That Started a Global Conversation

The Family AI Summit brought together experts, educators, and parents from around the world — South Africa, Argentina, the United States, and Australia — for one big, messy, beautiful conversation about how AI is reshaping family life, education, and human connection.

No slideshows. No robotic speeches. Just real talk.

I opened the summit from my little corner of Australia, running on cold coffee and mum-life adrenaline. As a homeschooling mom and founder of AI Kids Creative, I’ve seen how quickly the world is changing — and how few families feel prepared for it.

Schools are still teaching facts like it’s 1989, while deepfakes rewrite reality, AI clones mimic your voice before breakfast, and AI agents shop for you online while you’re still making school lunches.

Fear shuts people down. Understanding opens them up.

And that’s what this summit was designed to do — open families up to the reality that this isn’t just about technology. It’s about identity, creativity, ethics, and family. It’s about teaching kids how to think, not just what to memorize.

The Experts Who Brought the Fire:

Arno van Zyl (South Africa)
Author of Taming the Terminator and creator of AI Copilot, Arno kicked things off with passion and clarity. His mission? To make teens future-ready. His message? AI should be your co-pilot, not your driver. He believes schools are failing to prepare kids for what’s next — and that emotional intelligence matters just as much as digital skills. His students earn badges for leadership, curiosity, courage, and grit - traits that’ll never go out of style.

Stephen Parkin (Argentina, originally from the UK)
Founder of Kids AI Explain, Stefan might be the modern Mr. Rogers with a tech twist. His advice was gold: stop pretending to know everything about AI. Learn with your kids, not above them. He even created AI conversation starter cards for families to make it a safe dinner table topic. His take was simple but profound: the future will reward kids who understand how AI thinks, not just how to use it.

Rachel Miller (Texas, USA)
Entrepreneur, mom of six, and founder of Page Wheel, Rachel peeled back the curtain on what teens are actually doing with AI. Spoiler: it’s not just for homework. They’re using it to process emotions, navigate friendships, and even handle breakups. Her point was sharp: AI is making real human connection rare, which makes it more valuable than ever. Her advice to parents? Raise kids who are authentic, because truth beats perfection every time.

Hailey Nielson (USA)
Founder of Crowned in Courage, Haley shared her story of rebuilding life after trauma - with a little help from AI. She uses it to create safe, creative spaces for herself and her daughters. Together, they use ChatGPT to build imaginary business worlds, sparking imagination and resilience. Her wisdom hit home: Ask AI to ask you questions — it helps you hear yourself again.

Alexander Zervakos (USA)
Co-founder of theo.ai, Alexander spoke about AI and mental health — and his words were a necessary wake-up call. “AI is not your friend,” he said. “It’s a tool.” His platform helps therapists use AI ethically, but he warned that the technology reflects what you feed it. “If you give it fragments, you’ll get fragments. If you tell it a story, you’ll get growth.”

Jeffery M. Banek (The Funnel Doc)
Known as The Funnel Doc, Jeffrey brought humor and honesty. “AI can give you freedom,” he said, “or turn your brain into mashed potatoes.” His point? Use AI to automate the boring stuff, not the living stuff. Creativity, critical thinking, and connection — those still belong to you.

Jeffrey Ross (Tasmania, Australia)
Faith-driven and full of wisdom, Jeffrey grounded the conversation with a powerful metaphor. “Giving kids unmonitored access to AI,” he said, “is like handing a Ferrari to a toddler.” His message: teach fundamentals before the tech — humility, leadership, and character — because those are skills no algorithm can replace.

Marley Jaxx - Boise Idaho
Our storytelling powerhouse closed the summit with fire. “AI might help us craft stories,” she said, “but it can’t tell our truth. Humans are the before and after. AI is just the middle.” Her words captured everything this summit was about — curiosity, creativity, and humanity.

What It All Comes Down To

The Family AI Summit wasn’t about robots or coding. It was about raising thinkers, not followers. It was about helping families face the truth — AI isn’t coming, it’s already here.

The real question isn’t “Should we let our kids use AI?” It’s “How do we guide them through it?”

Because pretending AI doesn’t exist won’t protect your children. Understanding it will.

You don’t need to be a tech genius to start. You just need to talk about it. Learn together. Laugh together. Make mistakes together.

That’s what this summit was — the start of a conversation that every family needs to have.

So take a deep breath. Refill your coffee. And remember:
You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to stay curious.

Because the future isn’t written by algorithms. It’s written by families who choose to stay connected, human, and awake.

What’s your biggest question about raising kids in the age of AI? Drop it below — because this is one conversation that’s just getting started.

If this topic hit home for you, don’t just stop here — watch the full Family AI Summit video to hear these experts in their own words. It’s eye-opening, emotional, and exactly the kind of conversation every parent needs to have right now.

And if you’re ready to take the next step, grab a copy of my book “Don’t Let AI Raise Your Kids”

— it’s available in your region here:

📘 Australia
📗 United States
📙 United Kingdom
📕 Canada

This book was written to help parents like us make sense of AI - without the jargon, fear, or tech overwhelm.

Your practical, honest guide to raising grounded, curious, and confident kids in a world run by algorithms. It’s not about tech. It’s about teaching your family to think, question, and grow together.

Watch the video. Read the book. Start the conversation that will shape your child’s future.