Keeping Humans at the Center of Early Learning in the Age of AI
A Conversation With Dr. Dana Suskind, Author of Human Raised
The earliest years of a child’s life are filled with moments of discovery: the back-and-forth of a caregiver’s voice during a diaper change, the read of a child’s cue during play, a connection made on the playground. As new technologies such as “smart cribs,” cry decoders, and AI-powered learning companions become part of early childhood, how can we ensure they strengthen the relationships children need most?
Join Teaching Strategies for a live conversation with Dr. Dana Suskind, researcher, pediatric surgeon, and author of the bestselling Thirty Million Words: Building a Child’s Brain (Dutton, 2015). Her forthcoming book, Human Raised, offers a science-based guide to parenting in the age of AI. Together, we’ll explore what the latest developmental science tells us about protecting what technology can never replicate: the messy, beautiful human interactions that build children’s skills, empathy, and resilience.
You’ll walk away with
- A practical framework for evaluating AI tools against children’s real developmental needs;
- Dr. Suskind’s four HOPE principles (“Human connection is irreplaceable”; “Own the imperfections”; “Protect the early years”; and “Enhance, don’t replace, adult-child interaction”), translated into guidance for your program;
- clarity on the “Human Edge” skills, the critical thinking, empathy, creativity, and moral judgment no algorithm can replicate; and
- concrete questions to ask when your program faces its next technology decision.
