How AI Is Helping My 8-Year-Old Find Her Voice

As a father, there are moments when the noise and chaos of parenting turn into quiet revelations that change how you see the world—and your child. Recently, I had one of those moments thanks to my speed talking, enthusiastic, endlessly imaginative 8-year-old daughter—and an unexpected assist from AI.

Let me set the scene: we were driving home from school, and my daughter was talking up a blue streak about her day. Between her excitement and her uncanny ability to form single, run-on sentences delivered at lightning speed, I couldn’t understand a word she was saying:/

As someone who has spent decades working in public speaking and boardroom pitches and even professional voice-over work, I’ve tried to coach her on organizing her thoughts and speaking clearly. But, as any parent knows, coaching your own child is often like shouting into the voiddddddd.

In the middle of my attempts to decode her adorable but frenetic monologue, she sighed with exasperation and asked, “Daddy, can I just use your phone to play with ChatGPT?”

"Sure," I said, happy to let her entertain herself for a few minutes and even happier to turn on "my music." And that’s when it happened.

Behind me, I heard her clear, deliberate voice: “Create an 80’s-style image of bunnies in 80's style neon workout outfits.” Nice hard "t's", nice pauses in between words. Perfection.

I almost drove off the road. Not because of the AI request (I'm used to 'sloths eating pizza' and 'dogs getting their nails done') but because it was the first time I’d heard her speak slowly, articulately, and with complete intention in weeks.

When I asked her about it, she reluctantly admitted she knew exactly what I meant. She was speaking to the AI, ensuring it would understand her request and deliver what she wanted.

That’s when inspiration struck.

I told her, “From now on, can you try speaking to me and other adults like you speak to ChatGPT? It’ll help us understand your requests better—and help us give better answers to you.”

She gave me her classic side-eye and declared, “OK but that's weird, Daddy.”

The Bigger Lesson: When Technology Teaches What We Can’t

This moment was more than a parenting win; it was a revelation. In my career, I’ve spent countless hours honing communication—delivering lines with intention, pacing myself for clarity, and considering my audience. And yet, an AI model did something I couldn’t: it gave my daughter a reason to slow down, organize her thoughts, and articulate her words.

Why? Because AI listens differently than people do. It doesn’t fill in the blanks or guess at what someone means. It requires precision. It teaches users, even unintentionally, to pause, reflect, and articulate what they’re trying to say clearly. And for my daughter, who naturally races through her thoughts with joy and enthusiasm, that is a game changer.

I’d love to hear from you: Have you had an unexpected moment where technology helped you—or your kids—learn a life skill? Drop your thoughts in the comments!