Your child wants AI. But do you know what you actually need?
When your child says “dad, I want ChatGPT,” you think about an app. Maybe a subscription. But the truth is that “being connected to AI” is a chain of 5 dependencies — and if any single link breaks, the whole system stops working.
Prof. Jerzy Surma captured this well in his lecture on generative AI risks — here’s what you actually need.
The 5 links in the AI dependency chain
1. Access to AI + a reliable provider 24/7
You need an AI model provider that:
- Works without interruptions (99.9% uptime)
- Doesn’t change the rules overnight
- Doesn’t censor responses in ways you don’t know about
- Doesn’t use your data against your will
The problem: You have no guarantee of any of these. OpenAI, Google, Anthropic — these are private companies that can change terms, raise prices, or shut down their service.
2. A device — smartphone, tablet, glasses
No device, no access. And a device means:
- Purchase cost ($400-1500)
- Repair costs (screen, battery)
- Planned obsolescence (2-4 years and replace)
- Physical addiction (touch, notifications, dopamine)
3. Internet access
Wi-Fi at home, mobile data outside. Without a connection, AI doesn’t exist.
Exercise: Turn off Wi-Fi for 24 hours. Watch what happens to your child — and to you.
4. Access to electricity
Charger, outlet, power grid. Sounds trivial — until the power goes out for a few hours.
5. Income to pay for all of it
This is the link nobody talks to kids about. AI is not free.
What does it really cost? Calculate with your child
| Item | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Home internet (fiber) | ~$25-40 |
| Mobile data (phone plan) | ~$20-50 |
| ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro | ~$20-25 |
| Electricity (device share) | ~$10-15 |
| Smartphone amortization ($800 / 36 months) | ~$22 |
| Total | ~$97-152/month |
That’s $1,164-1,824 per year. Just for access. No apps, games, or online purchases.
Question for your child: “Do you know how much it costs so you can say ‘hey ChatGPT’?”
What happens when one link breaks?
Prof. Surma compares it to: “GPS turned off, and you can’t read a map.”
If your child:
- Can’t find their way without Google Maps
- Can’t calculate a bill without a calculator
- Can’t write an essay without AI
- Doesn’t know how to verify information in a book
- Can’t organize their day without notifications
…they’re digitally dependent. Not on the smartphone — on the entire chain.
Digital independence test
Try answering these 5 questions together with your child:
- Can you find the way to school without a phone?
- Can you write a letter (on paper) to grandma?
- Can you plan a weekend without the internet?
- Can you calculate the cost of a shopping basket in a store?
- Can you resolve a disagreement with a friend without texting?
If 3+ answers are “no” — it’s time for independence training.
How AI can (paradoxically) help
Use AI to prepare for life WITHOUT AI:
Family AI cost calculator
Help me calculate the real monthly cost of "being connected to AI"
for my family. We have:
- [X] adults, [Y] children
- Internet: [provider, price]
- Phones: [how many, what plans]
- AI subscriptions: [which ones]
- Devices purchased in the last 3 years: [list]
Show total monthly and yearly cost.
Compare with other family expenses (food, clothing, vacations).Digital resilience test
Create a "digital resilience test" for a child aged [X].
10 questions testing whether they can:
- Navigate without GPS
- Solve problems without Google
- Communicate without chat
- Organize time without apps
- Calculate without a calculator
For each question, give a tip on how to practice that skill.Offline weekend planner
Plan an "offline weekend" for a family with children aged [X].
Rules:
- Zero screens (phones in a drawer)
- All activities without technology
- It has to be fun (not a punishment!)
Suggest a plan for Saturday and Sunday with specific activities
suited for the current season [spring/summer/fall/winter].The most important lesson
AI is a tool — not a foundation. Just as a calculator doesn’t replace the ability to count, AI shouldn’t replace the ability to think, navigate, communicate, and be independent.
Before giving your child access to AI, make sure they can function without it. Because a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
Want to calculate the real AI costs in your family? Our AI assistant will help you do a full audit.