Garbage In, Garbage Out: Why My Kids Use AI Better Than Most Adults
And what that says about the future of creativity
AI isn’t magic. It’s not cheating. And it’s definitely not thinking for you.
It’s a mirror — fast, pattern-hungry, and logic-driven.
And what it reflects depends entirely on what you give it.
My Kids Know Something Most Adults Forget
I work in tech. I’ve been deep in AI for a while. But watching my kids use tools like ChatGPT has shown me something else — how natural this can feel when you don’t overthink it.
Here’s the difference I’ve noticed:
Most adults ask, “What can this tool do for me?”
My kids ask, “How can I make this tool do what I want?”
That’s a subtle shift — but a massive one.
One is passive. The other? Creative.
Adults often treat AI like a vending machine:
“Write me a story.”
“Make me a logo.”
“Generate a song.”
It’s no wonder the results feel generic. If your input is vague or uninspired, the output will be too.
That’s the heart of it: Garbage in = garbage out.
The Real Work Still Happens in the Brain
The best AI results I’ve seen didn’t come from premium tools. They came from people who had a clear vision and guided the system with intention.
Prompts like:
“Write a rap battle between a cowboy and a robot. The robot speaks in outdated 90s slang. The cowboy uses Shakespearean English.”
That’s not automation — it’s imagination.
It’s not about letting AI do the work.
It’s about directing it with a creative spark that came from within.
Prompting Is the New Brushstroke
We used to say, “learn to code.”
Now — especially in creative industries — it’s becoming: “learn to prompt.”
Prompting isn’t about pressing a button and walking away. It’s craftsmanship.
It requires:
• Intent
• Precision
• Curiosity
• Iteration
A good prompt starts a conversation.
A great one builds a collaboration.
The more specific and thoughtful your input, the more meaningful — and personal — the result.
AI as a Creative Partner, Not a Shortcut
We’re in a chaotic time. Some shout about AI’s promise. Others warn of its risks.
But beneath the noise is something simpler:
AI can help us explore. It can test ideas, stretch styles, and push boundaries — fast.
But speed doesn’t equal substance. That still comes from us.
Taste. Judgment. Meaning.
Those aren’t things AI can generate. They’re human choices — and they still matter most.
My kids use AI to sketch ideas, try bold prompts, and revise when it doesn’t feel right. They don’t post the first result. Like sculptors with clay, they play with it. Shape it. Own it.
That’s the model.
Pushing Beyond What I Could Do Alone
I’m a creative — always have been. And I get the hesitation.
There’s something deeply personal about making art, telling stories, or shaping experiences by hand. So the idea of bringing AI into that process? It can feel like surrendering something sacred.
But I’m not using AI to replace my creativity. I’m using it to amplify it.
To explore faster.
To push beyond my own skillset.
To test what’s possible — and refine what’s not.
AI gives me reach, but I still need roots.
The fundamentals — composition, structure, tone, color theory — still matter. Without them, the tool doesn’t get me far. But with them? I can stretch toward things I couldn’t have reached alone.
Final Thought
If you’re afraid AI will make everyone a creator, don’t be.
Most people won’t take the time to learn how to use it well.
AI is powerful. Fast. Full of potential. But it’s still just a tool.
To create something great, you still need the fundamentals:
composition, rhythm, storytelling, color theory, design instincts.
Those aren’t built into the model — they come from you.
The ones who bring craft, taste, and clarity to the process — the ones who see prompting as an extension of their skill, not a shortcut — will stand out.
So ask yourself:
Are you just testing the tool?
Or are you giving it something only you could imagine?
Because the quality of what comes out still depends on the brain — and experience — behind it.