CLEVELAND — Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing quickly and becoming part of daily life, sparking debates over its impact on critical thinking, education, and the workforce.
We recently spoke with Paul Roetzer, CEO and Founder of the Marketing AI Institute, about these changes. Roetzer, a Cleveland native who now travels globally to discuss AI, shared both optimism and caution for the future.
As Roetzer sees it, AI's impact on jobs will come gradually—not as a sudden overhaul. "I don't think people are just going to wake up all of a sudden and everything's going to be different," he says. "It will be a very gradual slope, not like a cliff."
Roetzer, who is also a father, founded his AI institute in 2016 when his children were young. His concern over AI’s influence on their future inspired him to explore how it could both challenge and enhance education. Through his weekly podcast, he keeps listeners updated on AI's fast-evolving landscape. Recently, he launched Kid Safe GPT, a tool specifically designed to help parents understand AI-related risks and talk to their children about using it responsibly.
Roetzer shared a deeply personal motivation for Kid Safe GPT. After hearing of a tragic incident involving a young teen who formed a troubling relationship with an AI avatar, he felt compelled to create a safe AI tool for parents. Kid Safe GPT helps parents set safety guidelines and educate their children on the benefits and boundaries of AI. “I built a specific tool that helps parents understand risks, talk to their kids, and create safety guidelines,” he explains. Despite not being a programmer himself, Roetzer used AI to customize this tool within minutes.
As AI progresses, Roetzer emphasizes, it won’t take over entire jobs but will transform specific tasks within them. "AI can't do any one job. It can do tasks...some tasks AI might handle at 10% capacity, others at 50%," he notes. He encourages parents to raise “AI-literate” children who understand the technology as a learning assistant, not a crutch.
Earlier in the week, Danielle Wiggins explored how AI is already transforming classrooms. Roetzer stresses it’s vital for educators to embrace AI as a learning enhancement rather than a replacement for foundational skills.
If you’re interested in learning more about Kid Safe GPT, head HERE.
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