Putting Children First in the Age of AI
Yesterday, I had the honor of attending the Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit at the United States Department of State, hosted by First Lady Melania Trump. What I witnessed was something I did not fully expect; a unified recognition that protecting children must come first in the age of artificial intelligence.
Leaders, first spouses, policymakers, and technology innovators from 45 countries gathered in one room. Going in, I anticipated a heavy focus on competition. The who’s who and leading in AI, how to accelerate innovation, and how to push technological boundaries. Instead, what unfolded was something far more meaningful. Every conversation and every speaker returned to a single, powerful theme of protecting children.
After years of policies that too often placed children last, school closures, learning loss, declining academic outcomes, and a growing mental health crisis fueled in part by unchecked technology use, it felt like a turning point. The world is beginning to acknowledge what many parents have long known: If we get this wrong, the consequences for our children could be devastating.
The First Lady set the tone clearly with her opening speech. She urged leaders to prioritize children above politics and geography. That message resonated throughout the summit. Speaker after speaker, regardless of country or role, spoke not just as officials but as parents. That was one of the most striking aspects of the day: across cultures and continents, the concerns are the same. Parents everywhere are grappling with how to raise children in a rapidly evolving digital world.
Leaders echoed both the promise and the risk. Representatives from countries like Costa Rica and Lithuania emphasized that while AI presents enormous opportunity, it must be approached through the lens of protecting the most vulnerable in society, our children.
The First Gentleman of The Republic of Slovenia shared a story from the 1980s of how professors began to require calculators and how they were met with pushback and concerns that the new technology would harm education. He reminded us that society often moves from resistance to acceptance when new technology is introduced and expressed that this moment is different, we are on the brink of the most profound change and we must build Ethics into AI. He declared, “We only have one shot to get it right.”
The First Lady of Serbia stated that technology is not good or bad but our test of humanity. Her acknowledgement of our First Lady for following her instincts as a woman and gathering everyone to discuss concerns about the future for our children was notable.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon spoke directly to everyone and let them know she was impressed with all the comments and thoughts, some from the perspective as mothers. She reiterated her belief that we need to harness the power of AI. It can be a tool but must have guardrails.
One of the most powerful messages came from Andrew Ferguson, Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. He articulated the balance we must strike better than anyone: AI offers immense benefits, but it also introduces serious risks, especially for children exposed to harmful content and predatory behavior online.
His warning was clear and urgent: We cannot allow children or their data to become fuel for the digital economy. I cannot paraphrase better than just sharing his words directly,
“Data is the necessary input for the digital age. But our children and their data cannot become Grist for the digital mill! The whole world has come to recognize that we must have different rules for our children online and their data than we have for adults. The purpose of innovation is not progress for progresses sake, The purpose of Innovation is to promote the flourishing of all people and especially children. WE CANNOT trade off our children’s safety and well-being for innovation.
At the same time overly broad or poorly designed regulations risks stifling innovation, limiting access to information, infringing on free expression and undermining parental authority by inserting government bureaucrats in the place of mothers and fathers. THIS IS KEY.
In our well-intentioned efforts to promote the safety of children. WE CANNOT REPLACE PARENTS WITH GOVERNMENT instead the government must come along side parents and help them navigate the challenges of the internet and AI by making the best choices for their unique children. The goal of child online safety must be to EMPOWER PARENTS not to replace them.
I urge every nation here to pursue balanced, pro parent policies that confront harms without sacrificing the benefits of the digital age.”
This is exactly why, in February, Moms for Liberty launched our Safety in AI Education Initiative, a campaign designed to bring parents, policymakers, and communities together around a simple idea: technology must serve families, not replace them.
As I shared at a meeting in December with the White House AI in Education Task Force:
Artificial intelligence is already shaping our children’s lives, whether parents feel ready or not. That’s why it is critical that parents, not bureaucracies or algorithms, hold the keys to how AI is used in their children’s education.
Our initiative is built on clear principles:
· Parents have the fundamental right to direct their children’s education
· AI must remain a tool—not a replacement for teachers
· Student data belongs to families, not corporations
· AI must not be used for psychological profiling or mental health interventions
· Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable
These are not anti-technology principles, they are pro-child and pro-parent principles.
What yesterday made clear is this: the world is at an inflection point. As Director Michael Kratsios described, this moment will define how children experience the digital age for generations to come. He introduced the
We are no longer asking if AI will shape our children’s future.
We are deciding how it will.
And that decision must start with a simple, unwavering commitment:
Children come first. Parents lead. Technology follows.