First Lady Melania Trump encouraged young Americans to use artificial intelligence wisely on Friday, calling recent technological advancements a sign of the “Age of Imagination.”
“The Age of Imagination is a new era, powered by artificial intelligence, where one’s curiosity can be satisfied almost magically, in seconds,” she said. “You are fortunate to have the capability to fulfill your dreams through the power of learning, with AI serving as the primary engine for creative exploration.”
Curiosity, Trump explained, is the “driving force behind every great achievement,” adding that AI “provides all the tools needed to implement your creative vision – today.” To start the creative process, she noted, “[y]ou need to harness your imagination.”
While artificial intelligence can “generate images and information,” such a tool does not replace the human drive towards “meaning and purpose.”
While encouraging young minds to “use AI to unlock new parts of your imagination” and to “lead with your ideas,” the first lady warned that Americans must “never surrender” their thinking to AI. “Choose to let your imagination drive your intellectual progress. But never use AI as a quick solution. Be intellectually honest with yourself – use AI as a tool – but do not let it replace your personal intelligence,” she stated.
In September, Trump encouraged the nation’s students to “discover, develop, and expand AI’s potential.” The statement, part of the Presidential AI Challenge for kindergartners through 12th graders, is part of passing the “torch of innovation” to the next generation.
The first lady’s Fostering the Future Together initiative also aims to provide children with the tools and resources necessary to cultivate innovation. “Innovation is wonderful. Our nations benefit from advancements in technology—saving lives, expanding access to knowledge, connecting people, and of course, safety,” she said during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
