Staying Safe with AI
AI Can Help But It Is Not Always Safe
AI can do amazing things: it can explain a difficult subject, test your spellings, help you improve your writing and bring an idea to life.
But it can also give you false information, expose something private, or do so much of your thinking that your own brain gets less practice. The answer is not to be frightened of AI. The answer is to understand the risks before they become problems.
Keep Personal Information Private
AI does not need to know exactly who you are. Never enter: your full name, home address, telephone number, passwords, school, exact location, passport details or travel plans.
❌ Unsafe: “My name is Sarah Ahmed. I attend Oakfield School and live at 16 Green Road.” ✅ Safe: “I am 10 years old and follow the British curriculum. Help me understand fractions without giving me the answer immediately.”
The AI has everything it needs without knowing Sarah's surname, school or address.
What Could Someone Do With Private Information?
One small piece may not seem dangerous but pieces join together.
Private information is valuable because it helps a scammer sound convincing.
- Knowing your full name, birth date, school, and home address could let someone pretend to be you!
- Knowing your parents' names and phone numbers might let someone send a pretend message for money.
- Route & TimeSomeone could know where you are every day!
- Passport PicUsed to open accounts or do grown up fraud!
- A visible QR code or travel ticket could let someone copy or interfere with a booking.
Be Careful When Uploading Photographs
A photograph can reveal far more than you notice.
If you are unsure, do not upload it. Ask a trusted adult first.
- Will this identify me?Does it show where I live or go to school?
- Is there a passport, ticket, bank card, QR code or barcode visible?
- Does it contain information about somebody else?
- A school letter may show your full name, address, pupil number and a parent's contact details.A passport photo contains your name, date of birth, passport number and nationality.
- Even a home photo might show a house number through a window or a school badge on a uniform.
AI Can Be Confidently Wrong
This is called an AI hallucination. AI does not always say “I don't know.” Sometimes it invents an answer that sounds polished and convincing.
Imagine asking: “Who was the first person to walk on Mars?” Nobody has walked on Mars. But AI could invent an astronaut, date and mission, and the answer might sound impressive, yet every word could be nonsense.
Good writing and good information are not the same thing. Always check important facts using a trusted book, school textbook, government website or recognised news organisation.
People Can Use AI To Trick You
AI can create convincing fakes.
Something looking real is no longer proof that it is real.
- Voice ScamFake voices can ask for money from people you know!
- Fake PhotosThey can make trick photos that make people look bad!
- Item AMake it seem like a famous person said something they never did!
- Item BMake fake messages from your school, bank, or even your family!
- Before believing or sharing something surprising, askWho created it? Where did it first appear? Is it being reported somewhere reliable? Could someone be trying to frighten or excite me?
Brain Mush: When AI Does Your Thinking
If you ask AI to write every answer, solve every problem and create every idea, your brain receives less practice. Tasks begin to feel harder without AI because the machine has been doing the difficult part for you. This is sometimes called brain mush.
❌ Brain mush prompt: “Write a review of this book for me.” You get words, but they are not yours. ✅ Better approach: write your own review first, even if it is rough. Then ask: “Imagine you are my teacher. Read my review but do not rewrite it. Ask me questions about anything important I have not included.”
AI has not replaced your thinking. It has helped you discover thoughts that were already yours.
Use AI as a Coach, Not a Substitute
Make your brain go first, always.
Think first. Attempt first. Write first. Then use AI to question, challenge and improve what you have done.
- Maths“Ask me what I think the first step is. Give me a clue if I am stuck, but do not reveal the answer.”
- Writing“Read my paragraph and ask me three questions that will help me add more detail. Do not rewrite it.”
- Science"Explain photosynthesis in your own words! Did you misunderstand anything? Try again, please."
- Spelling"Test me with one word at a time. Keep a list of my mistakes! We will try those words again."
Stop If Something Feels Wrong
You will not be in trouble for asking for help. If AI produces something frightening, offensive, confusing or unsuitable:
Be Kind, Be Fair, Think for Yourself
AI should make your thinking stronger, not unnecessary.
Remember: AI can repeat unfair ideas even when nobody directly instructed it to be unfair.
- Be kind and fairnever use AI to bully, embarrass or deceive someone. Do not create fake pictures, copy voices, spread rumours or write cruel messages. If you would not do something without AI, do not use AI to do it for you.
- AI can repeat unfair ideasit learns from information created by people and that information can contain mistakes, stereotypes and unfair opinions. Always ask: Who is included? Who is missing? Is an assumption being made?
🤖 Fun AI Safety Facts
AI Hallucinations Are Real
AI can invent facts, names, dates, or whole books and say them with total confidence. Wow!
Your Voice Can Be Copied
AI can copy someone's voice from just a few seconds of audio and make it say new things!
Careful: Your Photo Reveals Lots!
Even an innocent photo from home might show a house number, school badge, or family name on an envelope!
AI Can Be Wrong, Check the Facts!
AI learns from old info and can be wrong, biased, or out of date. Always double check important facts!
Summary
Keep Your Info Safe!
Protect your privacy! Never share your name, address, school, phone, or passwords with AI. It doesn't need them!
AI Can Get It Wrong!
AI can be wrong! It invents facts, names, or dates. Always check important info with trusted sources! Stay smart!
Looks Real? Not Always!
AI makes fake voices, pictures, and messages. If something looks real, it might not be! Think smart, kids!
Your Brain Goes First!
Think, try, and write your own ideas before using AI. It helps improve your work, not replace it, awesome!
PAUSE Before You Act
Protect private info · Ask a trusted adult · Understand AI can be wrong · Stop if unsafe · Examine before sharing.
Ready for the challenge?
Staying Safe with AI Mission
You're the AI safety lead at Mango Labs. Your team built a new homework-helper AI for schools, and it's almost ready to launch. Thousands of students are waiting. Can you make sure it's safe, fair and honest before it goes out into the world?
Dictionary
What is AI, anyway?!
A computer system that learns, answers questions, and makes cool stuff by finding patterns in giant info piles!
AI Makes Things Up!
When AI invents a fact, name, date, or source that is not real, and says it with confidence, like it's true!
Ask AI!!
What you type into an AI tool to tell it what to do and get an answer!
Mind Melt!
When AI does all your thinking, your own brain gets less practice. Oops!
Fakey AI Fun!
AI makes fake videos, photos, or sounds! They look and sound real, but they are not! Super tricky stuff!
My Secret Stuff!
Secret facts about you! Like your name, home address, school, phone number, or passport. Keep it safe!
AI Unfair
When AI learns unfair or uneven ideas from the info it was taught, and repeats those ideas in its answers. Super unfair!
Fact Check!
A reliable spot to check facts, like a school book, library book, government site, or trusted news group. So helpful!
Scam
A tricky plan meant to fool someone, often to take money, private info, or get into their online accounts.
PAUSE
A five step check: Keep privacy safe! Ask an adult. AI can be wrong! Stop if unsafe! Look before sharing.
You are now an AI Safety Expert!
Protect your information, question what AI tells you and make your own brain go first. AI should make your thinking stronger, not unnecessary! 💪🤖
