• by Chase Martin , July 6, 2017

As artificial intelligence capabilities expand in the future, Millennial parents may be open to using it in their children’s lives.

In some cases, parents said they would prefer relying on an AI system instead of their child, according to a new study by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

The study, comprising a survey of 600 parents between 20 and 36 years old who have at least one child younger than eight, was designed to gauge parents’ sentiment toward using AI in the lives of so-called ‘Generation Alpha’ children.

IEEE defines Generation Alpha as children born between 2010 and 2025 and expects artificial intelligence to be present in ‘nearly every aspect of their lives.’

When it comes to teaching their children, almost three quarters (74%) of Millennial parents said they would consider using an AI tutor. Fewer than a quarter (10%) said they would not consider it at all, according to the study.

The majority (80%) of parents said they expect their children to learn faster and learn more with AI than the parents did without it.

Here is the breakdown of Millennial parents’ sentiments toward using AI for their children:

• 64% -- Creates more time for the parent alone
• 63% -- Diminishes the amount of quality time with the child
• 45% -- Minimizes frustrations as a parent
• 44% -- Increases parent’s engagement because the child is engaged

Parents also seem to be open to interchanging human and animal roles in a house with robotic equivalents.

More than a third (40%) of parents said they would likely use a robot nanny at home to supplement or fully replace a nanny to help take care of their children.

Almost half (48%) of parents said they would likely get a robotic pet instead of a real one if their child wanted one. However, almost a third (30%) said they are very unlikely to do so, according to the study.

When it comes to their children’s health, Millennial parents appear to trust AI.

The majority (85%) said they have some level of trust in using AI to diagnose and treat their children. More than a third (39%) said they have a great deal or complete trust in such uses.

On the road, AI appears to hold an edge over teenagers driving on their own for the first time.

While almost a third (31%) of parents said they are worried about their child’s first time driving alone, fewer (25%) said the same about their child’s first ride in a self-driving vehicle, according to the study.

However, interest in utilizing AI doesn’t seem to be limited to children.

Almost two thirds (63%) of Millennial parents said they would prefer using AI to help live independently during their golden years, rather than relying on their children, according to IEEE.