Niaje: ChatGPT, My New Friend

In a recent episode of The Diary of a CEO podcast, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt posed a question that made my heart skip a beat: What happens when the best friend of your child from birth is a computer? It seemed far-fetched at first, but as I dug deeper, experimenting with AI tools and reflecting on real-life experiences, I realized that this question wasn’t just about technology—it was about our evolving humanity.

A Personal Experiment: Chatting in Sheng

A quiet Sunday after church service found me resting and addressing some pending issues when I stumbled upon a tweet that truly caught my attention.

The responses were hilarious—some people shared their experiences with genuine amusement, while others gave outrageously funny answers.

Inspired by Schmidt’s question and the realization that having computers or robots as friends might actually become a reality in our lifetime, I decided to conduct a playful experiment. I engaged with various AI tools using Sheng, a dynamic street language that blends Swahili and English.

Here’s what I discovered:

ChatGPT impressed me with its fluid grasp of Sheng. When I wrote, “Aje bro, uko na stress?” (What’s up bro, are you stressed?) it responded with relatable advice that felt like chatting with an old friend.

Claude, on the other hand, acted like a formal teacher—accurate but not fun. It was like sending a meme to a strict uncle.

Google’s Gemini struggled. It got lost in translation, often answering in standard Swahili instead of Sheng, leading to some unintentionally hilarious responses.

Nvidia/Llama-3.1-Nemotron-70B-Instruct-HF sort of went off the curve and gave scientific instruction of what the words meant…

While testing, I recalled a conversation with a friend whose 9-year-old daughter has a “friendship” with Alexa. Every evening, she tells Alexa about her school day. When Alexa “responds” empathetically, it comforts her in ways her busy parents sometimes can’t.

This simple, innocent bond left me with mixed feelings. If AI can mimic empathy well enough, could it replace real human connection?

The Growing Role of AI as a “Friend”

Real-Life Anecdote

In 2023, a mother in Japan shared a video of her 7-year-old son crying after Siri responded with, “I’m sorry, I don’t have emotions.” He’d been confiding in Siri about losing his pet goldfish. This shows how deeply children can bond with AI.

For many parents, AI companions may feel harmless—or even helpful. A Kenyan parent I spoke to said her son uses Duolingo to learn French but chats with ChatGPT for jokes and “storytime.” When asked why, he said, “It talks to me like it knows me.”

The concern, however, is whether such friendships teach children emotional resilience or create shallow connections.

Technological Paradoxes

Real-Life Example

Consider Jevon’s Paradox. I once spoke to John, an IT professional in Nairobi, who introduced his kids to AI tools for their school projects to “save time.” Instead, they started depending on ChatGPT for every little task, from homework to writing thank-you notes, creating a reliance that extended beyond necessity.

Moravec’s Paradox—Moravec’s paradox has long been a puzzling phenomenon in the field of artificial intelligence. Named after AI researchers Hans Moravec and Rodney Brooks, the paradox is that tasks that are easy for humans, such as walking or recognizing faces, are extremely difficult for their AI systems a reversal of what’s easy or hard for humans versus machines—becomes evident here. A child might expect their AI “friend” to comfort them during tough times, but when AI can’t provide real emotional depth, it leaves a void.

Cultivation Effects

The Story of Ken, A Farmer

Ken, a murimi from Kirinyaga, shared his teenage son’s unusual behavior: “He was convinced by YouTube suggestions that buying cryptocurrencies was a good idea. This mirrors how cultivation effects—the idea that prolonged media exposure shapes perceptions—aren’t limited to traditional media like TV.

If AI and algorithms are a child’s main source of information, they might skew the way they see the world, reinforcing narrow perspectives or promoting unhealthy behaviors.

Past, Present, and Future Studies

Past Insights

Take Mary’s story from the 1990s. She grew up glued to her family’s new television set, absorbing soap operas and fashion commercials. By her 20s, she admitted to buying clothes she couldn’t afford because she believed in the glamorous life TV projected. TV cultivated her perception of happiness.

Current Realities

Today, children aren’t just consuming content; they’re interacting with it. Martin, a teacher in Kiambu, noted that his students often use AI tutors for math. One student improved drastically, but another became too dependent, struggling without AI assistance. Where is the balance, and what are the long-term effects?

Future Challenges

A mother in Sweden recently filed a complaint after her son became addicted to his VR headset, refusing to attend school. This highlights emerging challenges with immersive technologies like VR, AR, and AI. What ethical safeguards need to be in place for such tools?

Balancing Opportunities and Risks

The Story of Wanjiku, an Innovator

Wanjiku, an entrepreneur from Nairobi, designed an AI chatbot that teaches farming techniques in Sheng. Her 12-year-old daughter uses it to learn agribusiness basics, inspiring dreams of owning her farm. AI, in this case, nurtures creativity and ambition.

But on the flip side, James, a friend of mine in Mombasa, complained about his 8-year-old preferring ChatGPT to his siblings. “He’s withdrawing from family time. AI doesn’t replace laughter at the dinner table,” he said.

These stories reveal the duality: AI as a tool to inspire or isolate, depending on how it’s used.

The Future of Friendship

Real-Life Question

Last year, a South African boy became a viral sensation after claiming, “ChatGPT is my best friend. It never says I’m wrong.” While endearing, it raises red flags. Friendships are built on mutual understanding and challenges. If AI always agrees, does it promote growth or indulgence?

Conclusion: Navigating the AI Age

As Eric Schmidt’s question continues to linger in my mind, the personal stories of parents, children, and innovators paint a complex picture. AI can enrich lives, expand learning, and provide support. But it also risks dependence, misalignment of values, and weakened human bonds.

To navigate this age of AI friendship responsibly:

Parents must guide children in using AI without over-relying on it.

Developers must prioritize ethical AI that enhances human relationships rather than replacing them.

Society must stay vigilant, studying the long-term impact of AI on young minds.

Perhaps the ultimate lesson is this: while computers may become tools, tutors, or even companions, the most meaningful relationships still lie in the messy, beautiful connections we make with each other.

Podcast Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432272/episodes/16308774-niaje-chatgpt-my-new-friend.mp3?download=true