According to new research from OpenAI, 70% of British parents with teenagers are now using AI chatbots like ChatGPT to help manage day-to-day family routines. The study found that parents save an average of three hours per week by outsourcing tasks such as problem-solving, research, and scheduling to artificial intelligence.
How Parents Are Using AI
The research identified the top ways parents are leveraging AI to reduce their mental load. Problem-solving tops the list at 58%, followed by research (53%)—including looking into schools, weekend activities, and family days out—and planning and scheduling (35%). Despite these time savings, OpenAI notes that many families are only scratching the surface of what the technology can do.
New AI Family Guide
To help households get the most out of AI, OpenAI has partnered with Parent Zone, a family digital wellness organization, to launch a new AI Family Guide. The initiative aims to demystify artificial intelligence for parents, showing how tools like ChatGPT can support family life—from boosting creativity and learning to managing tedious admin—while giving parents the confidence to discuss safety features and parental controls with their tech-savvy teens.
Parenting Advocate Embraces AI
Candice Brathwaite, a leading voice in the parenting community, admitted she was initially hesitant about the technology before realizing its practical benefits. "AI has quietly become one of the most useful tools in my home, and I say that as someone who was deeply sceptical at first," Brathwaite said. "As a working mother, I use it to help manage the mental load: planning, researching, drafting, and problem-solving. It’s like having an incredibly patient assistant."
Brathwaite noted that teenagers are often already using AI for homework and creative projects, making it crucial for parents to catch up. "My teens, though? As per usual, they are way ahead. Which is exactly why I knew I had to get informed and quickly," she added. "As ever, the conversations in our house aren’t about banning anything. They’re about understanding it together. I ask what they’re using, how they’re using it, and we talk about what’s helpful versus what needs a critical eye."
Brathwaite believes the new guide will serve as a vital resource for navigating the digital age. "What I know for certain is that ignorance isn’t protection," she stated. "The parents who will have the easiest time navigating AI will want to educate themselves first and foremost. OpenAI’s new AI Family Guide is exactly the kind of resource I wish I’d had from the start: practical, accessible, and written with real families in mind."
