At a time when technology is deeply embedded in daily life, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is taking a different approach to parenting, favouring outdoor play over early screen exposure.
Altman has said he does not want his child to grow up as an “iPad kid,” a term used for children who spend long hours on digital devices from a young age. Instead, he wants his newborn to spend more time outdoors.
Speaking on the Mostly Human podcast, Altman shared his concerns about excessive screen use among children. “When I watch kids just a little bit older than mine that you cannot take the iPad away from,” he said, adding, “that I feel very strongly about.”
Altman and his husband, Oliver Mulherin, welcomed their first child, a baby boy, in February 2025 via surrogacy. He has previously mentioned that he used ChatGPT for parenting advice.
Despite leading one of the world’s most influential AI companies, Altman said he is not in a hurry to introduce his child to such technologies. “[He’d] rather be on the late end of what’s reasonable there, not the early end,” he noted.
For now, his focus remains on simple, real-world experiences. “I want him to play in the dirt for now,” Altman said.
His views reflect a broader trend among Silicon Valley leaders. Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark has said he limits his toddler’s access to YouTube due to concerns about its algorithm.
Similarly, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates reportedly delayed giving his children mobile phones until they were 14, while Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was known to restrict iPad use at home.
While cautious about early exposure, Altman is not against technology in education. He believes AI could play a major role in schools by enabling “intense, personalised, one-on-one tutoring with AI.”
However, he also acknowledged potential risks, adding, “That’s great, but you can also imagine a lot of worlds where it goes wrong.”
Some schools in the US have already started integrating AI into learning models. One such school claims that students could earn $1 million by graduation, or parents would receive a full refund.
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