Sam Altman's ChatGPT Use with Newborn: 'Kid-Pilled' CEO

The Age-Old Question and the Rise of AI Parenting

For countless generations, humanity has grappled with a fundamental puzzle: What accounts for a baby’s cries?

Sam Altman, serving as both a parent to a three-month-old and the CEO of OpenAI, recently discussed on OpenAI’s new podcast how his company’s technology is influencing his experiences with fatherhood. Altman, identifying as “extremely kid-pilled,” revealed he was “constantly” utilizing ChatGPT to gain insights into infant behavior during his son’s early weeks. Now, with his son more settled, he’s shifting to broader inquiries concerning children’s developmental phases.

ChatGPT as a Modern Parenting Tool

“Undoubtedly, parents have successfully cared for babies long before the advent of ChatGPT,” Altman acknowledged. “However, I’m unsure how I would have managed without it.”

This reliance isn’t drastically different from the common practice of urgently searching for baby-related information online, a habit shared by many parents for decades. However, given Altman’s position, his preference for this particular AI tool is unsurprising.

Despite this, the potential for hallucinations within AI products raises concerns about depending so heavily on a chat AI for crucial baby-care advice.

Comparing AI to Traditional Parenting Resources

Parents have historically sought guidance from various sources, even questionable ones, during late-night crises. Colleagues with children describe the vastness of Google and the often-unreliable advice found in online parenting groups. Is ChatGPT truly more problematic than accepting advice from an online source claiming neglect if a baby’s bedtime isn’t aligned with lunar phases?

The prospect of parents utilizing AI for child-raising answers may be less alarming than the idea of very young children interacting with it, a topic Altman also addressed.

The Next Generation and AI Integration

“A video has always resonated with me, showing a baby, or a small toddler, interacting with an old glossy magazine [tapping] the [cover],” Altman explained. The child mistook the magazine for an iPad. “Children born today will simply assume that extremely intelligent AI has always been a part of the world.”

Andrew Mayne, a former OpenAI science communicator interviewing Altman, shared a story about a parent using ChatGPT’s voice mode to engage their child about their interests.

“The parent grew weary of discussing Thomas the Tank Engine, so they activated ChatGPT in voice mode… An hour later, the child was still captivated by the train,” Mayne recounted with amusement.

“Children are very receptive to voice mode,” Altman added.

Potential Concerns and Future Considerations

As more parents turn to ChatGPT for similar assistance, this trend will likely mirror the ongoing debate surrounding the “iPad kid” generation. While excessive screen time with content like “Cocomelon” is generally discouraged, it’s unrealistic to expect parents to constantly entertain their children.

However, current children’s media is, at least for now, created by human teams. ChatGPT, conversely, has policies recommending against use by those under 13 and lacks built-in parental controls. Even Altman acknowledges the inherent risks.

“Not all outcomes will be positive. Challenges will arise,” Altman stated. “Individuals may form potentially problematic, or even severely problematic, parasocial relationships, and society will need to establish new safeguards.”

The Promise of AI and Societal Adaptation

Altman is correct in asserting that the effects of allowing children to converse with a large language model about topics like Thomas the Tank Engine for extended periods are currently unknown. However, he consistently emphasizes the overarching goal of his company: to develop AI that surpasses human intelligence.

“The potential benefits will be substantial!” Altman exclaimed. “Society generally demonstrates an ability to mitigate the associated drawbacks.”

AI is rapidly changing how we approach parenting, and understanding both its benefits and risks is crucial for navigating this new landscape.