For grown-ups

What this story teaches

AI can talk, but it is not alive. Young children treat a talking device like a person — it has a voice, a name, and it answers back. This story gently draws the line: a machine can answer, but only people feel and care.

Say this at home

“It can talk, but it does not have feelings. It’s a talking computer, not a person.”

Try this

Next time your child talks to a smart speaker, call it “the talking computer.” When it answers, say “That’s the computer talking.” Ordinary language makes the lesson stick.

One gentle check

If your child says the device is sad or lonely, re-draw the line warmly: “It can say those words, but it doesn’t feel them. Big feelings go to people.”

From AI by Age — age-banded guidance on AI for families. aibyage.com