Parenting often feels like a whirlwind of decisions, emotions, and exhaustion, leaving many seeking guidance wherever they can find it. A recent Google Pixel 9 commercial showcasing the Gemini Live AI assisting with various life tasks caught my attention during a Thanks giving football game. Among the scenarios presented, a father turning to Gemini for advice on his children’s bedtime resonated with me as a parent to a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old. Intrigued, I decided to put the AI’s parenting abilities to the test.
First Encounter: Tackling Homework with AI
My experiment began with a common parenting dilemma: motivating my 14-year-old son to study for an upcoming math test. When I asked Gemini Live for advice, its response was clear—yes, he should study. However, convincing my son was another story. Gemini suggested a compromise: allow him an hour of video games in exchange for study time.
This strategy clashed with our household’s strict "no video games during the week" policy. When I shared this with Gemini, it shifted its advice, encouraging me to explain how studying would reduce stress on test day. When all else failed, the AI took a firmer stance, advising me to “lay down the law” and remind my son that studying is non-negotiable.
While the advice wasn’t groundbreaking, it provided a fresh perspective. However, the AI's stern tone felt almost surreal, as though it was parenting me as much as my son.
General Advice: Sage Wisdom or Common Knowledge?
Shifting gears, I asked Gemini for broader parenting tips. Its advice focused on the importance of consistency and calmness—principles my wife has championed for years. Hearing these lessons reiterated by an AI made me chuckle, though my kids were less impressed.
When asked for its sources, Gemini cited reputable organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and Zero to Three. However, a bizarre link to an Indonesian website featuring a questionable web quiz shattered the illusion of credibility.
A Family’s Verdict on AI Parenting
My kids had mixed feelings about Gemini Live. My 12-year-old daughter found the idea of me consulting an AI strange, viewing voice assistants as tools for simple tasks like checking the weather. My son appreciated the professional tone of the advice but saw little value in the app's current capabilities.
For me, the experiment highlighted that AI’s greatest contribution wasn’t the advice itself but the conversations it sparked within our family. While Gemini Live isn’t ready to replace traditional parenting, it occasionally provided a neutral perspective or acted as a sounding board.
The Future of AI in Parenting
As 2025 begins, AI tools like Gemini Live remain a work in progress. They serve as advanced search engines rather than transformative parenting solutions. However, with companies like Google and OpenAI heavily investing in conversational AI, the landscape could shift in the coming years.
For now, parenting remains firmly in human hands—a roller coaster ride that no AI can replicate, but one that might just be made a little smoother with the right technological assist.