Back in December, Sam Altman appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and shared that he uses ChatGPT to help him navigate fatherhood, and that he “cannot imagine having gone through figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT.”
Here’s the video if you haven’t seen it yet:
The comment sparked a wave of reactions: curiosity, humor, and for some, discomfort.
And honestly? These reactions make sense.
AI can be incredibly helpful. It can surface information quickly, offer ideas, and help us think through options when we’re tired, overwhelmed, or unsure. Parenting, especially new parenting, comes with all of that and more. So using technology as a support tool isn’t the problem.
The real question is where the line is.
Why “Nurture OS” Hit a Nerve
Not long ago, Abby launched a campaign called Stop Firing Humans, which included a fictional product called Nurture OS, an AI product designed to put parenting on autopilot.
It was intentionally absurd. But it resonated.
Because while no one is actually outsourcing their child to software (yet), many of us recognize the temptation behind the joke:
Wouldn’t it be easier if something else just handled the hard parts?
Here’s how Abby’s CEO, Nathan, summed it up:
“AI can be extremely helpful, but parenting isn’t just about having the right answer. It’s judgment. It’s instinct. It’s sitting with uncertainty. It’s being present when things get messy and emotional. AI can’t carry the consequences of those decisions. We can.”
That’s the heart of it.
The Real Risk Isn’t AI; It’s Abdication
The risk isn’t that AI helps us. The risk is that, over time, we quietly hand off responsibility because it feels easier.
Parenting requires accountability. So does leadership. So does running a business.
AI can suggest. It can assist. It can support.
But AI cannot own emotional outcomes. It cannot feel regret. It cannot build trust through presence.
And when we confuse convenience with responsibility, something important erodes.
The Same Line Exists in Business
This conversation isn’t just about parenting. It’s about how we think about automation everywhere.
In business, AI can:
- Respond to customer service inquiries
- Draft responses to emails
- Surface insights
- Automate repetitive tasks
And so much more. That’s powerful, and useful.
But customer relationships, first impressions, and emotional moments still require human judgment. When someone calls your business, they’re often stressed, confused, or making an important decision. They don’t just need the right answer. They need to feel heard.
That’s why Abby isn’t anti-AI. We actively invest in it.
But we believe technology should support human responsibility, not quietly replace it.
Human-First, Always
At Abby, we think the future isn’t humans vs. AI, it’s humans with AI, used intentionally.
Let AI handle the repetitive. Let humans handle the meaningful.
Whether it’s parenting a child or answering the phone for your business, some responsibilities shouldn’t be automated away just because they’re hard, emotional, or inconvenient.
Those moments matter. And they deserve a human on the other end.
