OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is yet again in the limelight, and no, this time not because of the ‘code red‘ comment he put forward a few weeks back. He made a late-night appearance on ‘The Tonight Show’ by Jimmy Fallon, where he made a bizarre comment that sparked a debate online. He explained that he often uses ChatGPT to ask the chatbot simple parenting questions, including why his baby keeps dropping pizza on the floor and laughing. He also said he once rushed to a bathroom at a party to check if it was normal that his six-month-old child was not crawling.
While Altman seemed relaxed and cheerful while telling the story, many viewers found it strange. Fallon also joked that parents have been managing these situations for years, which made Altman’s heavy dependence feel even more unusual.
Also read: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra India launch date, specifications, price and all other leaks
After this introduction, Altman went on to describe just how frequently he consults ChatGPT whenever he is unsure about his child’s behaviour. He mentioned that hearing another parent talk about their six-month-old crawling everywhere immediately made him anxious.
Instead of checking with someone nearby, he quickly excused himself and went to a bathroom to ask his own chatbot ChatGPT if his child was developing normally. According to him, the chatbot’s answer reassured him and told him to stay calm.
Although Altman shared the moment as a light and humorous story, the reaction online was mixed. Many people felt it highlighted an unusual reliance on technology for things that most parents handle through judgement, experience or advice from people around them.\
Also read: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Microsoft and others create foundation to set standards for AI agents
Several viewers noted that typical parents ask family members, paediatricians or trusted friends before seeking guidance from a chatbot. A number of Indian users said that Indian families have managed childcare for generations with the help of elders and community support, so the situation felt unnecessary and a bit odd.
Social media responses ranged from playful jokes to genuine concern. Some users joked that ‘calling your mom is still a valid parenting strategy’, while others wondered aloud, ‘Can you imagine being so smart yet so stupid at the same time?’ Some even went ahead and said if a major tech leader is running to a chatbot for baby advice, technology may be creeping a bit too far into everyday life. However, there were some critics too that even argued that if someone needs AI to help take care of a child, ‘maybe they shouldn’t have had one in the first place.’
Also read: Apple Noida store: Exact location, opening time and rent company will pay to Mall of India
Jimmy Fallon reacted in a way that reflected the broader audience response. He laughed at the story and pointed out that parents everywhere have been dealing with similar situations without any special tools. His comment summed up what many viewers were already thinking. However, Altman’s remarks also came at a time when OpenAI is facing increasing competition from other artificial intelligence companies. This led a few users to speculate that the parenting anecdote also worked as a subtle way of highlighting his own product.