The First AI-Native Generation is Here

What LEGO’s Research on AI and Kids Reveals About the Future We’re All Creating

A subscriber passed along a recent study from LEGO and the Alan Turing Institute on the impact of generative AI on children, and it gave me pause.

Now, some might assume my interest in something like this is because I’m a father of eight. And yes, that plays a role. However, if you think that’s the whole story or it’s only relevant if you’re a parent, I’d encourage you to stick with me.

With everything changing as fast as it is, we have a tendency to stay locked into what’s right in front of us. Everyone I encounter is trying to make sense of how they fit into a world shaped by AI. So, I completely recognize the idea of zooming out and thinking about what this means for a generation that’s still in elementary school feels like a luxury.

However, what this research reveals isn’t just about kids and the future. It’s about all of us and the future we’re currently building if we don’t start paying attention now. What’s happening with kids today is a leading indicator of where our tools, our systems, and our leadership gaps will be tomorrow.

Per usual, I unpacked some of my unfiltered thoughts in my weekly YouTube update. This article takes it a step further. It’s the reflections that came after, as I sat with it all a little longer. These are the four reflections I think matter most, not just for childhood, but for how we lead, build, and prepare for what’s coming next.

With that, let’s get to it.

Key Reflections

We’re not building a generation of independent thinkers; we’re largely assuming they’ll figure it out on their own.

According to the study, 22% of children between the ages of 8 and 12 are already using generative AI tools, with almost 80% of those using them on a regular basis. What wasn’t overtly stated but clear as you pieced it all together is that’s happening with very little adult guidance, oversight, or conversation. As a radically independent, tech-savvy ‘90s kid, I know the consequences of that statistic. The next generation is creating, experimenting, and shaping how they understand advanced technology with limited oversight and guidance to ground their use. They’re forming mental, emotional, and behavioral models in isolation. That’s a huge risk given what we’re dealing with.

To be clear, this isn’t about control or forcing them to adopt our frameworks. I’m familiar with the consequences of that too. It’s about engaging and walking alongside them so they’re not left to make sense of it alone. Now, I said this isn’t just about parenting, and it’s not. Most of today’s workforce is navigating AI in the exact same way. They’re quietly experimenting, privately struggling, and trying to stay relevant with little to no support and direction, and they need help. That’s why I created the AI Effectiveness Rating, to help them understand how prepared they really are to use AI and provide guidance on how to improve.

Because, children or adults, when we fail to guide, we aren’t building durability; we’re building fragility. And the longer we wait, the harder the transition becomes.

Dismissing youth isn’t a strategy; it’s a liability.

One of the most unexpected insights wasn’t how many kids are using AI; it’s how they’re using it. They’re approaching it with curiosity, creativity, and most notably, caution. Many are using it to expand their creativity and explore new ideas, not to replace critical thinking or shortcut effort. Interestingly, they’re also more skeptical of its outputs than many adults. That should make us stop and rethink a popular workplace narrative. Organizations are actively cutting junior talent because of the false mindset that AI can replace entry-level workers. This means people who are statistically more likely to be aligned with healthy AI behavior are being pushed out of the system before they have a chance to contribute.

Now, I’m not saying youth is better and experience is worse. It’s about recognizing they both add unique value and lead to the best outcomes when they’re working together. Seasoned leaders carry valuable wisdom and context. Younger voices bring a unique energy and adaptability that the AI era requires. Our natural desire for comfort often leads us to rely on what we know and circle wagons around the status quo, but that creates blind spots. Scripture describes the body as having many parts, each with its own important function. The same is true in leadership and the workplace. Systems work best when diversity isn’t viewed as a barrier but as a strength.

Cutting out the next generation doesn’t just shrink the budget; it shrinks the future. If we want to thrive in what’s ahead, we need every part working together now.

AI won’t fix our inequity problems; it will multiply them.

One of the disappointing but not surprising insights from the study was a sharp disparity in the audience. Kids in private schools are significantly more likely to be using generative AI tools than those in public schools. That’s a problem in itself, but the deeper issue isn’t just access; it’s what that access unlocks. Private school kids aren’t just using the tools more often. They’re more likely to have support, exposure, and adults helping them use AI in thoughtful, creative ways. Meanwhile, the rest will be left to figure it out alone or not at all, and not just in terms of what they can do, but in how they think about what’s possible. And, that kind of divide doesn’t narrow over time. It compounds.

We’re already seeing similar patterns in the workplace. The well-resourced employees, teams, and industries are accelerating. Meanwhile, others are stuck trying to catch up with whatever tools are available, with limited time and permission to explore. We have to remember is AI is an amplifier. Whatever inequity already exists in a system will scale exponentially faster than normal. So, when we kick the equity conversation down the road, we’re building systems that will become harder and harder to course-correct. It’s also worth noting that equity and good stewardship are smart leadership. When you create room for more people to contribute, everyone wins.

This one is important because we have a narrow window to act. If we want AI to be a tool that improves the playing field, we have to build systems that are willing to do the same.

What we call cheating might be someone’s first real chance to participate.

One of the most understated findings in the research was how much generative AI helped kids who traditionally struggle in school, those with learning disabilities or cognitive differences. For them, AI wasn’t a shortcut. It was a breakthrough. It gave them access to creative expression, communication, and confidence they had never experienced before. And yet, instead of celebrating that, many adults rush to frame it as cheating or gaming the system. However, when a tool helps someone finally show what they’re capable of, maybe the tool isn’t a problem. Maybe the system that never worked for them in the first place is the problem.

Once again, this isn’t just a classroom issue; it’s a problem in the workplace as well. I’ve seen it many times with adults who’ve struggled to frame their ideas into polished decks or articulate their thoughts in writing. Give them the right tool, and suddenly their insights get heard. Their potential shows up like never before. That’s not cheating; that’s access. And yes, it can feel threatening. When we see people who haven’t historically thrived suddenly succeed, it’s easy to feel like there’s less room for the rest of us. But that’s a scarcity mindset, and it’s a lie. This isn’t a zero-sum game. When more people are able to show up fully, the system gets stronger. The tide goes up, and we all rise with it.

If we’re willing to shift our lens, AI might not be the thing that breaks our systems. It might be the very thing that makes them whole.

Concluding Thoughts

One of the things I’ve come to appreciate most about having a big family and working remotely is how deeply integrated life is. We like to think we can keep things in nice, clean compartments. We leave everything behind when we transition from one compartment to another. However, that’s not reality. There’s no neat division between “work life” and “home life.” It’s all just life. And paying attention to what’s happening in one area frequently reveals insights in another if we’re willing to look closely.

That’s what this article is really about.

Because it’s easy to dismiss important information when it feels like it’s not “for us.” If you’re not a parent, you might assume a study like this is outside your lane. However, the longer I sat with it, the more I saw just how interconnected it all was. The habits our kids are forming, the gaps in equity, the ways people learn and show up when they finally get the right tool in their hands aren’t just childhood issues. They’re leadership, cultural, and design issues.

Hopefully, I’ve convinced you to check out the research and wrestle through the implications for parents and business professionals alike. Because the future we’re currently building won’t exist in silos, and neither should our thinking. Right now we have a narrow window where there are still a lot of roads we could take. Some will lead to more fragmentation. However, many more lead to deeper capability, stronger systems, and broader access, but only if we’re willing to take them.

We certainly have a lot to think about now and for what’s ahead. Let’s embrace that for the gift that it is.

With that, I’ll see you on the other side.