When the Beta generation starts asking questions, AI might respond before their parents do.
Since the launch of ChatGPT, children born in 2025 and beyond will grow up in a world shaped by artificial intelligence, influencing their knowledge, decisions, and relationships.
The term "Beta generation," coined by Australian futurist Mark McCrindle, refers to children born between 2025 and 2039. In a recent report, McCrindle noted that for this generation, the digital and physical worlds will be seamlessly integrated.
"While the Alpha generation witnessed the rise of intelligent technologies and AI, the Beta generation will live in an era where AI and automation are fully integrated into daily life—from education and workplaces to healthcare and entertainment," he said.
Unlike previous generations who lacked access to generative AI, the Beta generation enters a world where AI is ubiquitous and may soon approach the singularity.
This hypothetical future point marks uncontrollable and irreversible technological growth, leading to dramatic, unforeseen changes in human civilization.
Some AI industry leaders, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Dr. Ben Goertzel, speculate that this event is imminent and could occur within the next decade.
"The Beta generation represents the dawn of a new era. They will grow up in a world shaped by technological breakthroughs, evolving social norms, and increasing focus on sustainability and global citizenship," McCrindle said. "Understanding their needs, values, and preferences will be key as we anticipate how they will shape society's future."
Since the introduction of ChatGPT in 2022, educators and psychologists have been discussing how AI impacts children.
On Sunday, a Reddit user lamented that their 11-year-old sister, part of the Alpha generation, turned to ChatGPT for basic math problems that she should be able to solve independently, highlighting the growing reliance on AI.
Educators have observed a shift as students increasingly depend on AI for learning and problem-solving.
"As an educator, I see students frequently turning to ChatGPT for advice and answers, and I notice friends and family doing the same," said Jonas Kaplan, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Southern California. "The challenge lies in technology advancing faster than our educational institutions, which were designed to teach skills for the world we grew up in—not the one today’s children will inherit."
Kaplan, co-director of the USC Brain and Creativity Institute and the Dornsife Neuroimaging Center, emphasized that critical thinking is an essential skill for the Beta generation.
"In past generations, we had to learn how to find information because it was scarce and hard to access," he said. "Now, the current generation faces different challenges. They are inundated with information and must decide what is good and what is not. Therefore, as technology evolves, different skills need to be learned."
Experts also warn that as AI becomes more prevalent, parents might delegate the responsibility of educating their children to artificial intelligence.
"I think there will be a trend towards AI educating children, and we need to prevent this from happening," said Dr. Emily Levy, founder and director of EBL Coaching, an educational center in New York that provides academic support for students from preschool to adulthood, focusing on those with learning disabilities, ADHD, and dyslexia.
While AI will be commonplace for children of the Beta generation, Levy cautions that the quality of available AI tools could create educational disparities.
Children with more advanced or accurate AI models may receive better support, while those using less reliable systems may fall behind.
"There will definitely be gaps because AI can still make mistakes and isn't always accurate. It often depends on the data it draws from," Levy said. "Some systems are more advanced, so these gaps may persist and I believe they will always exist."
