Parenting in the age of artificial intelligence is entering a new phase. Lilian Schmidt, a 32-year-old mother from Switzerland, has sparked heated discussions online after going viral for her unconventional way of dealing with the daily challenges of motherhood: she uses ChatGPT as a co-parent. Schmidt, who lives in Zurich and works as a brand strategist, has built a community of more than 21 followers on TikTok, where she shares practical tips and “prompts” for parents who want to make their lives easier using artificial intelligence. “Four months ago, I reached a point where I was emotionally and physically exhausted. That day, I decided to use ChatGPT as a co-parent – and my life changed,” she says.
For Lilian, ChatGPT does not replace the girl’s father or real childcare, but serves as a digital assistant that helps with daily decisions: planning meals with ingredients she has at home, composing bedtime stories, suggestions for sleep routines, and educational activities.
“I’m basically delegating 97% of the mental workload of parenting to her,” she writes in one of the videos. While many parents have embraced the idea and thanked Lilian for sharing her experience, others have expressed skepticism, sparking a debate about the approach. One Twitter user/X responded, “Why don’t you co-parent with your child’s father instead of a robot?” while another wrote, “This is scary.” For some, Lilian’s case is just another example of how technology is becoming integrated into every aspect of life. For others, it’s a warning sign about the fading of human connections and the dangers of over-reliance on artificial intelligence.