How Generative AI is shaping young minds; and why online safety has never been more important

Across Australia, students are exploring the cutting edge of technology through the Optus Digital Thumbprint program – innovative, free national workshops.

Now, comes a brand new offering; a virtual classroom all about Generative AI.

This engaging session introduces young people to the incredible world of Generative AI while reinforcing the importance of staying safe and respectful online.

Designed for upper primary students, the virtual classroom blends hands-on activities, real-world examples, and live demonstrations to help young people understand how AI is already part of their daily lives. From predictive text and streaming suggestions to smart assistants and facial recognition, AI is everywhere. But Generative AI takes things one step further. This special kind of artificial intelligence can create entirely new content, like images, stories, music, and even video.

The session begins with an interactive question that get students thinking about the technology they use every day. Facilitators then explain how AI learns by identifying patterns in huge datasets, helping students understand that tools like ChatGPT or image generators are trained on information collected from across the internet.

One of the most engaging parts of the workshop is the AI dinosaur activity, where students watch in real time as a generative AI tool creates a weird, funny, or surprising creature. This sparks curiosity and laughter, but also opens a discussion about how the quality and tone of a prompt can shape AI outputs, and how important it is to use these tools with care and intention.

The workshop also shines a light on the risks associated with Generative AI. Deepfakes (realistic but fake images, audio, or video) can be entertaining, but they can also be used to deceive or spread harmful content. Students learn how to spot a deepfake using a practical checklist and are encouraged to question anything online that seems too good, or too strange, to be true.

Digital safety is a key focus throughout. Students are reminded to use strong passwords, keep personal information private, and think critically before sharing content online. They’re also encouraged to turn to parents or others when something doesn’t feel right, reinforcing the message that it’s always okay to ask for help.

The workshop wraps up by celebrating the potential of AI when it’s used responsibly and creatively. Whether students dream of becoming inventors, artists, coders or simply safe and smart digital citizens, the session empowers them with tools and knowledge to thrive in an AI-powered world.

Join us for a free live session at 10:30 AM on Thursday 19th June 2025, hosted by a Kimberlin Educator and Honre Young from the Optus AI Team. This free virtual classroom is open to Years 5-6 students across Australia – register now.

Educators looking to further support their students’ understanding of AI and digital safety can bring the Optus Digital Thumbprint workshop to their school, either in-person or virtually. Visit the Digital Thumbprint program to learn more. There are also resources to support parents to understand AI and help guide their children on this incredible new technology: Resources – Families – Digital Thumbprint.

As technology continues to evolve, programs like this help ensure that young people aren’t just passive users; they’re confident, curious, and capable digital thinkers, ready to navigate the future.

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