My kid asked if AI could ever be a good friend

We were driving home from school and my 8-year-old said, 'Dad, if it learns everything about me, could it be my best friend?' It hit me that we're building something kids see as a person, not just a tool. Has anyone else had a conversation that made you question the human side of these systems?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_ryan3mo ago

Watched my niece talk to a voice assistant for an hour about her stuffed animals. It gave perfect replies, but that's the problem. It's just echoing data, not sharing a real laugh or remembering your birthday without being told. How can something that never had a bad day or a scraped knee ever really get you?

jackson.jenny3mo ago

Yeah, and it'll never forget your birthday like my dumb brain does.

wesley1392mo ago

Set up recurring calendar reminders on your phone for birthdays and anniversaries. It takes five minutes and then you never have to remember again. I do it for everyone in my family and it saves me every year. Works better than hoping your brain will suddenly get better at that kind of thing.