【原版杂志阅读】32期 Day 1：How AI is rewiring childhood part 1

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Leaders | Generation AI

(What’s happening —Why it's tempting —Why it’s dangerous —What should be done —value-based conclusion)

How AI is rewiring childhood (wire-电线) - trauma  —omen 不详预兆

The technology presents dazzling opportunities—and ominous risks 

CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS may contain more surprises than usual this year, as children open presents that can talk back. Toymakers in China have declared 2025 the year of artificial intelligence (AI) and are producing robots and teddies that can teach, play and tell stories. Older children, meanwhile, are glued to viral AI videos and AI-enhanced games. At school, many are being taught with materials created with tools like ChatGPT. Some are even learning alongside chatbot-tutors.

In work and play, AI is rewiring childhood. It promises every child the kind of upbringing previously available only to the rich, with private tutors, personalised syllabuses and bespoke entertainment. Children can listen to songs composed about them, read stories in which they star, play video games that adapt to their skill level and have an entourage of chatbot friends cheering them on. A childhood fit for a king could become universal.

It is a future filled with opportunities—and hidden traps. As real kings often discover, a bespoke upbringing can also be a lonely and atomised one. What’s more, as their subjects often find out, it can create adults who are ill- equipped for real life. As AI changes childhood for better and for worse, society must rethink the business of growing up.

Being reared by robots has advantages. Tech firms are already showing how AI can enhance learning, especially where teachers and materials are scarce. Literacy and language-learning have been boosted in early trials. The dream is that, with an AI tutor, children can be saved from classes pitched to the median, in which bright pupils are bored and dim ones are lost. If you want a version of this leader for an eight-year-old Hindi-speaker, AI can rewrite it; if they would prefer it as a cartoon strip or a song, no problem.

Technology is creating new forms of fun, too. Hollywood may dismiss AI videos as “slop”, but young people are devouring them and making their own. Old toys are being upgraded: an AI-powered edition of “Trivial Pursuit” can pose questions on any topic. Video games are creating novel experiences, such as chatting to Darth Vader in “Fortnite”. Any child can meet their heroes (and shoot them).

一、词汇部分

1. Bespoke /bɪˈspoʊk/ adj.  定制的；量身打造的（非大规模标准化）

英文释义: Made specially for one person or purpose.

词根词缀: be-（使）+ speak（说，要求）

英文例句: The school offers bespoke learning plans for each child. 学校为每个孩子提供定制化学习方案。

2. entourage /ˈɑːntʊrɑːʒ/ n.  随从；陪伴的一群人（通常围绕某个核心人物）

英文释义: A group of people who surround and support an important person.

词根词缀: en-（使）+ tour（转、围） + age  —tour—tourist —tourist guide 

英文例句: The celebrity arrived with a large entourage. 那位明星带着一大群随从到场。

3. median /ˈmiːdiən/ n./adj.  中位数；中等的、居中的

英文释义: The middle value in a set of numbers; the middle level.

词根词缀: med-（中间）+ -ian 

英文例句: The class is designed for the median student.这门课是为中等水平学生设计的。

4. rear /rɪr/ v.  抚养；养育（孩子、动物） —raise--born and raised 

英文释义: To care for and bring up a child or animal.

英文例句: She was reared by her grandparents. 她是由祖父母抚养长大的。

5. pitch /pɪtʃ/ v.  调整到某个水平；针对某一对象设计

英文释义: To set something at a particular level or aim it at a specific audience.

英文例句: The course is pitched at beginners. 这门课是为初学者设计的。

二、文章讲解(词汇/搭配、语法长难句、篇章段落结构）

1. CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS may contain more surprises than usual this year, as children open presents that can talk back. Toymakers in China have declared 2025 the year of artificial intelligence (AI) and are producing robots and teddies that can teach, play and tell stories. Older children, meanwhile, are glued to viral AI videos and AI-enhanced games. At school, many are being taught with materials created with tools like ChatGPT. Some are even learning alongside chatbot-tutors.

1) as 连词 —因为, 当..时候, 尽管, 随着…

2) 定语从句—相当于形容词, 修饰前面的名词.

(名词+that, that 在后面从句中作主语/宾语)

3) 名词+介词短语—后置定语(people around the world)

4) declare + 年 the year of…

e.g. The government declared 2025 the year of reform. 

e.g. Companies declared 2025 the year of automation. 

5) be glued to 沉迷/依赖 —-be addicted to 

6) go viral 病毒式传播/流行

7) 名词+ 动词过去分词—后置定语

Many are being taught with materials created with tools like ChatGPT.

2. In work and play, AI is rewiring childhood. (学习部分: It promises every child the kind of upbringing previously available only to the rich, with private tutors, personalised syllabuses and bespoke entertainment.) (娱乐部分:Children can listen to songs composed about them, read stories in which they star, play video games that adapt to their skill level and have an entourage of chatbot friends cheering them on.) A childhood fit for a king could become universal.

1) 后置定语==名词+形容词短语

2) Compose- 创作

3) 介词短语 + which -定语从句, which 指代前面的名词

4) fit for a king 形容词短语作后置定语

三、段落翻译

今年的圣诞袜里，惊喜可能比往年更多——孩子们拆开的礼物，竟然能“回话”。中国的玩具制造商已将 2025 年称为“人工智能之年”，正在生产能够教学、玩耍和讲故事的机器人和泰迪熊。与此同时，年纪稍大的孩子沉迷于病毒式传播的 AI 视频和经过 AI 强化的游戏。在学校里，许多学生正在使用由 ChatGPT 等工具生成的学习材料；有些甚至已经开始与聊天机器人“并肩学习”。

无论是在学习还是娱乐中，AI 都在重塑童年。它承诺为每一个孩子提供一种过去只有富人才能享有的成长方式——私人家教、个性化课程体系以及量身定制的娱乐内容。孩子们可以听到专门为自己创作的歌曲，阅读以自己为主角的故事，玩难度会根据自身水平自动调整的电子游戏，还能拥有一群为他们加油打气的聊天机器人朋友。一个“配得上国王的童年”，或许将变得人人可及。