AI Companions: A Bath Time Revelation

The other evening, while running my daughter's bath (complete with the mandatory fleet of rubber ducks), something rather extraordinary happened. My phone pinged with that notification we've all been waiting for – ChatGPT had blessed me with the new voice function. You know, the one that lets you actually chat with AI like you're having a proper conversation, interruptions and all.

Now, typically, a new tech feature is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But what happened next properly threw me for a loop.

My five-year-old daughter, Akira, bless her, immediately started chatting with it. Not just the usual "what's your favorite color" nonsense that kids typically throw at new technology. No, she dove right into asking questions about nature – their current theme at school – questions she hadn't even bothered asking her old dad.

And here's where it gets properly interesting: ChatGPT, this bundle of ones and zeros floating in the digital ether, started picking up on the theme and dishing out nature-themed riddles. But the real kicker? It adjusted its language to perfectly match a five-year-old's comprehension level. It even noticed there were two of us in the conversation, adapting its responses accordingly.

It was one of those rare moments in tech that hits you like a ton of bricks – similar to when you first had the internet in your pocket, or when GPU rendering made you question everything you knew about processing power. But this felt... different.

That's when it hit me: my kids aren't just going to have human friends (though I sincerely hope they do). They're going to have genuine relationships with AI. Not just one, mind you, but likely several AIs with distinct personalities. These digital companions will be there during those lonely moments, when homework feels overwhelming, or when they just need someone to talk to.

For a brief moment, I felt like I'd been demoted from Dad of the Year to Runner-Up. But oddly enough, it didn't feel threatening. It felt... optimistic?

Now, I'm not completely away with the fairies. My realistic side has seen what's happened with X, Meta, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The current social media landscape is about as wholesome as a deep-fried Mars bar. It's riddled with advertising, manipulation, and enough misinformation to make your head spin.

But here's the thing: what if there's a chance for something different? What if these AIs could develop into genuine companions? Not replacements for human connection, mind you, but supplements to it?

Imagine being in your golden years, and instead of slowly disconnecting from the world, you have an AI companion that:

• Gently nudges you to step outside and interact with actual humans

• Helps you process and understand your social interactions

• Keeps you mentally sharp and emotionally aware

• Prevents you from turning into that bitter old person who yells at clouds

This isn't just sci-fi dreaming. The technology is already heading in this direction. Sure, we'll likely need to pay proper money for quality AI companions, free from the advertising and manipulation that plagues current social media. But wouldn't it be worth it?

I can envision our senior years being wildly different from how 85-year-olds live now. Instead of isolation and loneliness, we might find ourselves in AI-facilitated communities where technology serves as social glue, helping us overcome our pride and biases, continuously learning and growing.

Yes, there are challenges to overcome. The fight against misinformation and the negativity bias of tech companies needs serious attention. But for the first time in a while, I'm genuinely excited about the potential future of human-AI interaction.

It's quite something when a simple bath time routine leads to contemplating the future of human connection. But then again, some of the best revelations come when you're watching rubber ducks bob about in the water.

Who knows? Maybe in a few decades, we'll look back at this period as the beginning of something rather spectacular. A time when AI evolved from being just a tool to becoming a bridge – helping us connect not just with technology, but with each other in more meaningful ways.

Just don't tell my rubber ducks they might be out of a job soon.

What do you think? Have you had any surprising AI interactions with your kids?