My son used AI to create a video game — and it changed my view on technology and education

When a child encounters a difficult problem, what usually happens? They ask an adult for help, try to solve it on their own, or simply give up. But what if there were an infinitely patient partner, available 24 hours a day, capable of explaining complex concepts simply and never — absolutely never — losing their patience? This is the scenario a US father recently described in a report published by Business Insider, which sparked a huge discussion about the role of artificial intelligence in education and the creative development of children.

The story: a video game created with the help of an AI

The story is simple, but powerful. The author's son, still in childhood, decided to create a video game. It wasn't a school project, there was no obligation behind it — it was pure curiosity and the desire to create something from scratch. The problem? He didn't know how to code. He didn't know game development logic, he didn't understand engines, sprites, or code loops.

The solution he found was to turn to generative artificial intelligence tools, like ChatGPT, to guide him through every step of the process. And the result was surprising: the boy managed to develop a functional game, with his own mechanics, basic visuals, and a narrative structure created by himself.

"AI never gets frustrated with me"

The sentence that drew the most attention in the father's report was spoken by his son, spontaneously:

This statement, seemingly simple, carries enormous weight. How many times do children stop asking something because they feel like they are being a nuisance? How many times does the fear of "not understanding fast enough" stop a young person from exploring a new area? The infinite patience of an AI eliminates this emotional barrier.

For the boy, being able to ask the same thing several times, in different ways, without receiving a sigh of impatience or a short answer from someone who is tired, was liberating. He learned at his own pace, made mistakes without embarrassment, and corrected those mistakes with the help of the tool.

The clear benefits of AI use by creative children

The experience described by the father points to a series of real advantages that artificial intelligence can offer young people who want to create:

• Democratization of technical knowledge: Previously, creating a video game required years of study in programming. With AI, a child can turn an idea into reality much more easily.
• Safe environment for making mistakes: AI does not judge. It corrects, explains, and tries again — as many times as necessary.
• Stimulus to creativity: The technical part becomes a smaller obstacle, allowing the child to focus more on narrative, design, and the game experience.
• Autonomy in learning: The author's son learned in a self-directed way, following his own curiosity — one of the pillars of modern education theories.
• Organic introduction to programming: Even without realizing it, by reviewing the code generated by the AI and understanding how it works, the child begins to assimilate concepts of logic and development.

The father's concern — and why it is legitimate

Despite all the excitement about the result, the father did not hide his one major concern: dependency.

When a child learns to solve problems always with the help of an AI, are they actually learning? Or are they just learning how to ask for answers? There is a fine line between using AI as a learning tool and using it as a shortcut that eliminates the cognitive process of solving a problem.

This is a discussion that is at the center of the debate on AI in education all over the world. Pedagogy experts point out that cognitive effort — the struggle to understand a difficult concept — is a fundamental part of learning. When we completely eliminate this friction, we may be creating young people incapable of persisting in the face of challenges without technological assistance.

How to balance the use of AI with the development of autonomy?

Some educators and researchers suggest practical approaches:

1. Use AI as a "second step": Encourage the child to try to solve the problem on their own first, even if just for a few minutes, before turning to AI.
2. Ask AI to explain, not just solve: Instead of asking for finished code, ask the AI to explain the concept and let the child try to apply it.
3. Critical review: Teach the child to question the AI's answers — because it makes mistakes too — developing critical thinking.
4. Offline moments: Ensure that part of the learning happens without technology, encouraging independent problem-solving.

The future of creativity in the AI era

The case reported by the father is not isolated. Around the world, children and teenagers are using AI tools to create music, write stories, develop apps, and, yes, build video games. This generation is growing up in an environment where the barrier between "having an idea" and "executing an idea" is getting smaller and smaller.

This is, without a doubt, revolutionary. But it also places a new responsibility on parents, educators, and society: to teach children not only how to use these tools, but how to understand their limits, their flaws, and the risks of excessive dependency.

The video game the son created is real. The father's pride is too. But the question that was left hanging — did he learn to create, or did he learn to ask AI to create for him? — does not have a simple answer, and perhaps that is exactly the starting point for a conversation that every family with children in the digital age needs to have.

Conclusion: AI as a partner, not a substitute

The story is a mirror of our time. Artificial intelligence can be one of the most powerful educational tools ever created — or it can be a crutch that prevents the real development of skills. The difference lies in how it is used.

The boy who created his video game with the help of AI did something extraordinary. But the role of the adults around him — parents, teachers, educators — is to ensure that the next time he faces a challenge, he also has the ability to look within himself before looking at the screen.

AI never gets frustrated. But learning to deal with frustration is also part of growing up.