Why learning history makes you an AI referee

Hey there! Have you ever asked an AI chatbot a question and wondered if the answer was actually true? Well, guess what? The stuff you're learning in school right now is like getting superpowers for the future!

Generative AI is everywhere (and it makes mistakes!)

You've probably noticed that AI is becoming a huge part of our lives. It can write stories, answer questions, help with homework, and even create pictures. That's pretty cool! But here's the thing: AI isn't perfect. Sometimes it gets things wrong, makes up facts, or mixes up information. It's kind of like that mate who's really confident but doesn't always have their facts straight.

Your brain is the best referee

This is where YOU come in! When you learn history, science, maths, and other subjects in school, you're building something super important: your own knowledge base. Think of it like training to be a referee in a football match. The referee needs to know all the rules so they can make the right calls. You're learning the rules of how the world actually works so you can call out when AI gets something wrong.

Let´s take an example.

Imagine an AI tells you that Queen Victoria sent the first text message in 1850. If you know your history, you'd immediately blow the whistle! "Wait a minute! Mobile phones didn't exist back then!" See? Your knowledge just made the right call.

History teaches you to spot the fouls

Learning history isn't just about memorising dates (though those can be helpful). It's about learning to ask important questions like:

• Where did this information come from?

• Who said this, and why might they have said it?

• Does this make sense with what else I know?

• What evidence supports this claim?

These are the exact same questions you should ask when an AI gives you information! Just like a referee needs to understand the game to make good calls, you need to understand the world to know when information is accurate.

The sneaky danger of "sounding smart"

Here's something tricky about AI: it's really good at sounding confident and smart, even when it's wrong. It's like someone who can tell a story really well, with lots of details, but some of those details might be made up.

Without your own knowledge, it's hard to tell the difference between AI being helpful and AI being wrong. But when you've learnt about the Second World War, the solar system, how fractions work, or why the Romans built aqueducts, you have the power to double-check what AI tells you.

You're learning to think, not just to know

The biggest secret about school? It's not really about remembering every single fact. It's about learning HOW to think. When you study a historical event, you learn to look at different perspectives, understand cause and effect, and figure out what's reliable information.

These thinking skills make you a great referee in the age of AI. They help you:

• Question information instead of just accepting it

• Compare what AI says to what you already know

• Research further when something seems off

• Make smart decisions based on good information

  
  

Working together with AI

Here's the really cool part: when you're educated and know how to think critically, AI becomes an even better tool! Instead of just believing everything it says, you can use it to help you learn, explore ideas, and get work done faster—all whilst making sure the information is actually correct.

It's like having a super-smart assistant who's really helpful but needs you to be the boss and check their work.

Your future needs you

In the next few years, AI is going to get even more common. By the time you're in secondary school or university, it might be everywhere—helping with medical diagnoses, writing news articles, making important decisions, and more.

The world is going to need people who can think for themselves, who know real facts from fake ones, and who can use technology wisely without being fooled by it. That person could be you!

So what should you do?

1. Pay attention in all your lessons – yes, even the "boring" ones! Everything you learn is building your fact-checking superpower.

2. Ask questions – Get in the habit of wondering "Is this true? How do we know?"

3. Read books and explore topics you're curious about. The more you know, the harder you are to fool.

4. Practise using AI carefully – When you use AI tools, always double-check important information.

5. Stay curious – The best defence against misinformation is a curious mind that loves learning.

Real-world examples you might encounter

Let's say an AI tells you that the Berlin Wall fell in 1985. If you've studied European history, you'd know straightaway that's wrong—it was 1989! Or imagine it says that the Channel Tunnel connects England to Ireland. Your geography knowledge would tell you that's incorrect—it connects England to France!

These might seem like small mistakes, but they matter. If you're writing an essay, doing a project, or just trying to understand the world, getting the facts right is really important.

The bottom line

Learning history, science, maths, and everything else in school isn't just about passing exams or getting good marks. You're literally training yourself to be a critical thinker in a world full of information—some true, some false.

AI is an amazing tool, but it needs smart humans to use it well. By learning as much as you can now, you're preparing to be that smart human. You're learning to be someone who can't be easily tricked, who asks good questions, and who knows how to find the truth.

And that? That's one of the most important skills you can have, no matter what the future brings.

Now go ace that history test—you're training to be an expert referee! 🎯

Ribbit, ribbit!

//Frobo