Parenting in the age of artificial intelligence

There was a time when the premise of nanny robots and artificial intelligence raising our children was merely the subject of Steven Spielberg's futuristic sci-fi films. The future, it seems, is now. As AI enters nurseries, playrooms, and classrooms, parents are being sold a “smart” childhood at every turn. With mainstream use of artificial intelligence, the power of parent talk and human interaction in childhood development has become even clearer. In her latest book, Human Raised, author Dana Suskind, MD, reveals the possibilities and perils of using AI and related technologies for child-rearing. What do parents and caregivers need to know to assess individual technologies and foster the skills needed to thrive growing up in an AI-driven future? Dr. Suskind has authored over 45 scientific publications and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a Fellow for the Council on Early Childhood. She is also the founder and Co-Director of the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health, Founding Director of the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program, and Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at the University of Chicago. Her previous books include the New York Times bestsellers Parent Nation and Thirty Million Words. This conversation originally took place on July 23, 2026 at the City Club of Cleveland. Guests: - Dana Suskind, MD, Author, Human Raised: Nurturing Connection, Curiosity & Lifelong Learning in the Age of AI - Lisa Damour, PhD., Author, Psychologist, and Senior Advisor to the Schubert Center for Child Studies, Case Western Reserve University