Search for: All records

Abstract ObjectiveThis Emerging Ideas report explores families' (parents and their children) uses and gratification for ChatGPT. BackgroundGenerative artificial intelligence–based conversational agents, such as ChatGPT, can be used to accomplish a variety of tasks, yet little is known about how and why parents and their children may use these technologies. MethodsWe conducted semistructured qualitative and exploratory interviews with 12 U.S.‐based families that had experience sharing a ChatGPT account. Families were recruited using social media advertisements, and at least one child and one parent joined the interview. We asked families about what they used ChatGPT for and why they used the platform. ResultsFamilies reported four main motivators for using ChatGPT: (a) information seeking, (b) enhancing productivity, (c) entertainment, and (d) social bonding. Potential barriers to use included concerns about (a) ChatGPT's credibility and capabilities, (b) being less familiar with using ChatGPT, (c) the platform's ethical implications, and (d) possible privacy risks. ConclusionFamilies use ChatGPT for various purposes, but their uses and gratifications sometimes may differ depending on their perceptions of and experiences with the platform. ImplicationsOur findings suggest that with some improvements, ChatGPT has the potential to be a useful tool for both individual and shared use in families.