The Concerns Are Real
AI is one of those topics that brings up a lot of reactions.
- Curiosity.
- Excitement.
- Concern.
Sometimes all at once. Before we explain why we use AI at TODI, it’s important to say this clearly:
We understand the concerns—and they are valid.
You may have watched the recent press conference with the United States ‘First Lady regarding the current administration’s plans to use AI in the future of teaching our children.
A humanoid educator named Plato who provides instantaneous, home access to humanity’s entire corpus of information. – Melania Trump
TODI does not align with this vision. We view AI as a tool, not a teacher.
AI is far from perfect. And it’s not something to use blindly. Many people have many concerns that orient around many aspects of AI. To narrow the scope we’ll be addressing the concerns and risks related to AI in the education space.
There are real risks:
- Incorrect information – AI can sound confident and still be wrong
- Bias in training data – It reflects the information it was trained on
- Over-reliance – Copying answers without thinking
- Screen time – Especially for younger learners
- Loss of real-world experience – If everything happens behind a screen
These are not hypothetical problems. If AI is used passively or without guidance, they become risks and limitations to learning.
So Why Use It At All?
Because the question isn’t: “Is AI good or bad?” The better question is: “How is it being used?”
The movie, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, tells the story of how the future John Connor uses advanced AI to protect his past self. As a result, young John Connor forms a relationship with a machine that was originally designed to kill him in The Terminator (first movie). In the end of T2 that same machine saves his life.
He doesn’t fear AI. He learns how to use it. A tool doesn’t define the outcome. The human user does.
Why We Use AI in TODI
We don’t use AI to replace optimal learning. We use it to support it.
1. It is a Good Option for Sovereign Learning
Instead of following a fixed, questionably curated curriculum, learners can:
- explore what they’re interested in
- follow meaningful questions
- shape their own direction
AI helps organize that process by:
- generating structured learning paths
- enhancing curiosity
- connecting ideas
But the learner—and often the parent—remains in control. AI may not always be the ideal, but we believe it is a far suprerior choice than the school system. We believe the school system is a system of indoctrination and control.
2. Deep Learning in Less Time
AI reduces the time spent on:
- planning learning paths
- connecting ideas
- learning mental models
And then we step away from the screen.
The real learning integration happens through:
- explanation
- observation
- experimentation
- creation
AI helps us start. It doesn’t replace the process. We use AI to learn things and then explore those things in the real world.
3. It Strengthens the Learning Loop
AI makes it easy to:
- ask a question
- get a response
- refine the question
- go deeper
This creates a natural loop of learning. Not one answer, but a continuous process of exploration.
4. It Reveals How We Think
AI responds to the quality of the input.
Which means it reflects:
- clarity
- confusion
- curiosity
A better question leads to a better answer. Over time, learners begin to notice this. And they start asking better questions. AI doesn’t replace thinking. It reveals it.
Parent-Guided Use (Especially Early On)
For younger learners, AI is not a solo tool.
It’s something used:
- with a parent
- through discussion
- with shared decision-making
Over time, learners gain more independence. But it starts with guidance.
The Bigger Picture
AI is not the center of TODI. It’s a tool inside a larger Learning Spiral.
That system is built around:
- curiosity
- exploration
- pattern recognition
- real-world experience
AI supports those things when used well.
A Simple Way to Think About It
The risk is not AI. The risk is unstructured use.
When AI is used:
- without intention
- without guidance
- without real-world connection
it can flatten learning.
But when it’s used:
- deliberately
- selectively
- as part of a larger process
it can expand what’s possible.
Final Thought
We don’t use AI because it’s the ultimate teaching solution.
We use it because—used correctly—it helps learners:
- explore more freely
- think more clearly
- learn more independently
AI is not the teacher. It’s a tool. And like any tool, its value depends on how it’s used. Ironically, TODI believes that the proper use of AI can help us reconnect with our humanness.
How might AI be used in your learning environment in a way that supports real-world experience instead of replacing it?