What AI Could Be Doing to Our Kids
6/2/202637 min
AI is getting better at sounding human. Better at conversation. Better at reassurance. Better at knowing exactly what we want to hear.
So what happens when our kids start building relationships with machines designed to remove friction?
In this conversation, Dr. Becky talks with former Wall Street Journal tech columnist Joanna Stern about AI toys, chatbot companions, creativity, learning, and the surprising role frustration plays in healthy human development.
Together, they explore why “helpful” technology can potentially short-circuit the skills kids most need to build: patience, resilience, independent thinking, and real connection.
Joanna also shares what happened when she spent time building a relationship with an AI chatbot herself... and why it left her more concerned about kids and companion bots than ever before.
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From the newborn days to the teen years, Good Inside now supports parents through every stage of childhood — with practical guidance for the moments that matter most.
Thank you to our partners for making this episode possible:
- Play-Doh: Shop Play-Doh at Walmart for a summer of imaginative play
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsBecky Kennedy· Host0:00
So it's summer, and your kid's out of school, and you hear them say, "I'm so bored." That's a stressful moment, right? I mean, it is for me. But here's a reframe: boredom is a doorway to creativity, and Play-Doh can actually help you and your kid walk through it. What I love about Play-Doh is there's no one right way to play. Kids can make up the rules as they go. If you have a kid who loves animals, your kid can make a dog or a dolphin. The kid who plays with their food can make a donut or pizza. Your kid can make anything. And your kid isn't just having fun, they're using their imagination and expressing themselves. And if it all gets smooshed into one big blob, you have a kid who felt free enough to play, and that matters. And here's my favorite thing: You can sit down next to your kid with a can of Play-Doh and no agenda. You can play together, play side by side. There doesn't have to be any teaching or fixing. In fact, I recommend leaving those things out. It's an opportunity to give your kid what they want the most: presence and connection. This summer, give your kid, and honestly yourself, permission to play. Shop Play-Doh at walmart.com/playdoh.
Joanna Stern· Guest1:19
Underlying this generative AI chatbot is this model that is just saying what it thinks you want to hear. There's no friction. My biggest fear is