Using AI to Learn How to Communicate
June 08, 2025
This is what I want to be doing with AI.
Dustin Stout's blog: Teaching My Kids About AI: Lessons That Changed How I Think About Technology, 2025-May-25 by Dustin Stout
The Plot Twist That Changed Everything
After months of our AI education experiment, I noticed something. My kids weren’t just better at using AI. They were better at everything requiring communication:
- School presentations became clearer
- Arguments with siblings became more logical (still loud, but logical)
- Homework instructions were followed more accurately
- Creative writing assignments flourished
That’s when it hit me: We weren’t teaching them to use AI. We were using AI to teach them to think.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Most kids (and adults) are learning AI backwards. They’re learning tools and tactics. They’re memorizing prompts. They’re following templates.
But AI isn’t just another tool. It’s a thinking partner. And you can’t partner effectively with something if you can’t think clearly yourself.
The kids who will thrive in the AI age aren’t the ones who know the most tricks. They’re the ones who can:
- Think clearly about what they want
- Communicate those wants precisely
- Iterate based on feedback
- Paint vivid pictures with words
- Stay specific when others are vague
Sound familiar? These are the same skills that make humans successful in any era.