Sam Altman has spent years shaping the direction of artificial intelligence, but he recently let slip that AI played an unexpected role in his personal life. Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the OpenAI chief said he leaned on ChatGPT throughout the early months of looking after his newborn.
Comments he made then reportedly sparked a wave of reactions online about how much technology fits into modern parenting.
AI as the Companion for New Parents
He confessed that he turned to ChatGPT for everyday reassurance, from developmental milestones to small puzzles that every parent faces. He and his husband, Oliver Mulherin, welcomed their son in February and like most new parents, he often found himself wondering if he was doing things right.
Altman joked he felt bad asking ChatGPT what he called obvious questions, such as why a baby might toss food on the floor and erupt in laughter.
A Moment of Panic Goes Viral
He recalls attending a party and another parent mentioning that their infant had already started crawling; he thus felt suddenly anxious and slipped away to check with ChatGPT if his child was behind the curve. The chatbot reassured him that nothing was out of the ordinary.
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“The answer felt bespoke, even chiding him for comparing his child’s pace to the high-achieving adults in his life,” Altman said. The story quickly made the rounds online, both for its humor and the growing reality of parents seeking digital tools for advice.
Backlash & Online Commentary
Social media reactions were all over the place, filled with teasing and criticism: People mocked the idea that AI would be necessary for something as basic as parenting, since humans have been rearing generation upon generation of children without technological help.
Some called Altman’s perspective narrow; others said using a chatbot for guidance reflected poor judgment. The divide was between those comfortable with AI as an everyday tool and those who saw overreach.
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Parenthood & Altman’s View on AI’s Future
Despite the backlash, Altman has talked publicly about how becoming a parent has made him think far more profoundly about AI’s role in society. Earlier this year, he said his son will grow up in a world where artificial intelligence surrounds life.
To him, that reality is impossible to avoid. As debates continue around parenting and technology, comments from Altman show that even the people building AI navigate the same fears and insecurities as any new parent.
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Disclaimer: This article offers analysis for general information and should not be considered medical, parental or professional advice.
