When you introduce AI into care, families understandably have questions, especially where a child or young person is involved. This guide gives you a plain-English understanding of how Minikai uses a person's information, how consent fits in, and how to respond when a family raises a concern. The goal is simple: so you feel confident and honest in those conversations.
What a "language model" actually is
A large language model is the technology behind a Mini. In practice, it is a tool that has learned the patterns of written language, so it can read text and write clear, well-structured text back. Think of it as an extremely capable reading and writing assistant, not a person, not a database, and not a decision-maker.
A few things are worth saying plainly to families:
It works only with the records for that person. A Mini reads the progress notes, care plans, assessments and other records that already exist for the person it represents. It does not browse the internet or pull in information from anywhere else.
It shows its working. Every answer a Mini gives includes numbered citations back to the records it used, so staff can check where information came from.
It drafts, it does not decide. Whatever a Mini produces is a draft or a summary for a staff member to review and edit. A person always applies their own judgement before anything is used. See Human in the Loop.
For more detail you can share, see How Minikai's AI Works and What is a Mini?
How a person's information is protected
Most family concerns come down to one question: is my child's information safe? The short answer is yes. A person's information is never used to train AI models, it is stored in your organisation's selected data region, and only staff assigned to support that person can see their Mini. For the full picture, point families to AI and Privacy and How Minikai keeps your data safe and compliant, or the Trust Centre for certifications and data-handling specifics.
How consent works, including for minors
Consent for using a person's information sits within your organisation's existing consent framework and its obligations under privacy law. Minikai does not replace that framework; it operates inside it. In practice, a signed consent form covering the collection, use and sharing of a person's information through the Platform is what allows their records to be available to their Mini, and your organisation is responsible for obtaining and keeping that consent current.
For children and young people, consent is normally provided by a parent, legal guardian, or another authorised representative, in line with your organisation's policy and the young person's capacity to be involved in decisions about their own information. Assessing a person's capacity to consent is your organisation's responsibility.
How a family can opt out
A family can opt out at any time by withdrawing their consent. The formal step is to notify your organisation (the care provider) in writing, so it can be actioned and recorded against your consent process. Raise the request with your team lead or workspace Admin so the right people know. Once consent is withdrawn, the person's information is no longer used with the AI.
Two things are worth being clear about with families. Withdrawing consent does not undo anything that was already done while consent was in place, for example information that has already been used or shared as part of care. And opting out does not affect the person's care or their records in your core system; it only changes whether their information is available to Minikai.
Answering common family questions
Here are grounded, honest responses you can adapt in conversation.
"Is my child's information being used to train AI?" No. Their information is used only to help their own care team, and it is never used to train AI models.
"Who can see this?" Only staff assigned to support your child. Access is controlled, and conversations with a Mini stay private to the staff member using it.
"Does the AI make decisions about my child?" No. It drafts notes and summaries from existing records. A staff member always reviews and decides.
"Where does the information go?" It stays in your organisation's selected data region and is not shared outside your organisation's workspace, except where care is coordinated with another provider under your consent arrangements.
"Can we say no?" Yes. You can withdraw your consent at any time, and it will not affect the care your child receives.
If a family asks something you are not sure about, it is always fine to say you will check and come back to them. Loop in your team lead rather than guessing.
⚠️ Always follow your organisation's consent policy: This article explains how Minikai supports consent and opt-out. It does not replace your organisation's own consent framework or its obligations under privacy law. When in doubt, defer to your policy and your team lead.
Tips for these conversations
Lead with the person, not the technology. Start from the family's concern for their child, then explain how the safeguards protect them.
Be honest about what it is. A drafting and summarising assistant that shows its sources is easier to trust than "AI" left undefined.
Make opting out feel welcome. Families are more comfortable saying yes when they know they can change their mind.
ℹ️ Good to know: A Mini only ever works with the records for the specific person it represents. It cannot see other clients, it does not browse the internet, and it produces drafts rather than decisions. See How Minikai Learns (and What It Doesn't).
Need help?
If a family raises something you are unsure how to answer, or you would like support preparing for a conversation, message us through the help icon in the bottom-right corner of Minikai. We're happy to help.