Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian is embracing artificial intelligence as a crucial part of his daughter’s upbringing. Speaking on a recent podcast, Ohanian revealed his excitement about AI’s potential, saying he wants his seven year old, Olympia, to interact with the technology daily.
Ohanian expressed amazement at how easily his child will access superintelligent tools in the future. Reflecting on his own childhood art, he shared that he and Olympia used ChatGPT to breathe new life into his old sketches, turning rough drawings into full color digital images. Olympia still enjoys traditional art, but together they are now able to expand on her creativity using AI, letting her artwork “fly through space,” as he put it.
He believes learning to use AI is akin to a modern superpower. Ohanian, who is also the founder of the venture fund Seven Seven Six, encourages not just creative use, but also educational AI tools at home. For Olympia, tools like Synthesis have been helpful with homework. Ohanian emphasized the importance of fundamentals like reading and arithmetic, but said that the core advantages AI brings cannot be ignored. “The raw intelligence part has been solved,” he insisted, shifting focus to developing her creativity, determination, and independence.
Debate Over AI’s Role in Childhood
Not every tech leader is as eager as Ohanian to welcome AI into kids’ daily routines. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, recently voiced concerns over young children bonding with AI chatbots. He argued that kids should have stronger safeguards around their tech use. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has echoed worries, warning last year that AI could influence a child’s culture and sense of identity, and urging for stricter industry standards.
Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerberg has said he does not want his young children spending excessive time in front of screens or devices, including those powered by AI. These cautionary stances reflect deepening debates about tech and childhood.
Despite the divide, AI is making inroads into mainstream life, especially in education and entertainment for kids. Companies are integrating chatbots and learning assistants into popular youth apps, with giants like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI promoting AI’s educational benefits. Some teachers have even reported positive classroom experiences with these tools, seeing them as beneficial for learning.
Sam Altman summed up the broader shift earlier this year, noting that today’s children are growing up in a world where Reddit AI parenting is a given, not a futuristic fantasy.
