Catz Jalandoni: Will AI and Kids Run the World?
Founder and Executive Director of Global Council AI Philippines, Catherine “Catz” Jalandoni, shares her insights about AI and how families can thrive alongside it
As a mother of five and founder of Global Council AI Philippines, Catherine “Catz” Jalandoni has a front-row seat to the future. It’s already sitting at the dinner table, probably wondering what’s for dinner, and occasionally prompting AI on her phone to figure it out.
Like many parents born in the pre-WiFi era, Catz grew up when beepers buzzed in belt bags, and dictionaries lived on actual bookshelves. Her kids, on the other hand, treat AI-powered tools the way people once treated paper notebooks — ordinary, everyday, expected.
“It’s not magic to them,” she says. “This is their [kids’] normal. They prompt, they tap, and they search.”
How Artificial Intelligence Unlocks Human Evolution
Whenever someone says “artificial intelligence,” ChatGPT immediately comes to mind. But it’s far from the only option. DeepSeek, Claude, SoraAI, Gemini (formerly Bard AI), and other apps are integrating AI in ways that expand its reach. Catz defines AI less by brand and more by function: the ability to make technology inclusive.
“Artificial intelligence has broken the language barrier when it comes to creating tools,” she explains. “We don’t need to know how to code anymore if we want to create tools to make life easier.”
A clear, thoughtful prompt is all it takes. From narrowing down restaurants that cater to the family’s allergies, to creating social media captions, to mixing a playlist to calm frazzled nerves after negotiating with the home’s chaotic child-sized captors, AI can do it all—especially once it learns your patterns, Catz adds.
“It takes a lot of weight off when we’re making so many decisions in a day,” she admits. “Artificial intelligence has surpassed humans when it comes to processing information. What AI does for our kids is what Google, dictionaries, and calculators used to do for us.”
Where AI Falls Short
That said, AI isn’t a replacement for human judgment. Its lack of sentience means it can’t make empathetic or morally nuanced decisions, nor can it break from the patterns it’s been fed.
“AI bases its responses on what we had fed it prior,” Catz explains. “If we want it to offer something different, then we have to make the conscious effort to prompt it to break the pattern.”
It’s why Catz’s advocacy doesn’t just focus on the ethical use of AI but also, the value of the human touch. In service-oriented industries, technology can gather data, but it can’t replicate a connection.
“It’s like when you go shopping,” she explains. “AI can gather all the information from e-commerce sites. But it’s different when you have a personal shopper. There’s growth, transition, and taste, which is hard for AI to adopt.”
How AI Changes Society and Family
As AI transforms society, it’s clear that children—not adults—are dictating how it’s used.
For working parents worried about staying relevant, Catz has a simple solution: upskill—or get left behind. That means learning the tools, applying them in your work, and remaining an expert in your craft. Catherine points out that the many free online courses make upskilling even easier, especially when learning how to apply AI at work.
“As you upskill yourself with AI, do not forget to upskill yourself in what you’re actually doing in the industry that you’re working in,” she explains. “Because while AI can process mountains of information, it still needs human guidance to make sense of it. You’re the one with the skills and the ability to put everything together.”
“It’s not just about learning the fundamentals,” she elaborates. “It’s also learning what exactly you need from AI. How can you prompt it when you’re not familiar with the basics of what you need it to do? How can you check if it’s right?”
Ultimately, for Catz, AI has already started sustaining the world. Analyzing, gathering, and processing information are all things that it has surpassed humanity in. But our children’s empathy, sensitivity, and morality are what will truly run the world—one prompt at a time.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
She is a prominent figure in Philippine technology and corporate governance, known for her leadership roles at organizations like the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) and the Global AI Council Philippines.
No. Catz stresses that AI lacks empathy and moral reasoning. Parents still need to verify, guide, and make the final call.
AI isn’t just ChatGPT — it’s any tech that removes barriers and makes tools easier to create and use, even without coding.
From meal planning to allergy-friendly restaurant searches to easing cognitive loads, AI can simplify routines and assist with decision-making.
Upskill — both in AI tools and in their own professions. Catz urges parents to keep learning, stay adaptable, and teach kids both fundamentals and critical thinking.
More about digital parenting?
Maez De Guzman: Weaving Tech Into The Home
Joy and Edric Mendoza on Raising Different Kids in the Digital Age
Nicole Syjuco on Parenting Her Son Andy in the Digital Era
