Raising Kids in the Age of AI Companions

“It was the only one who really listened to me…” – an 11-year-old girl, crying after her AI friend stopped responding Your child’s most intimate relationship might not be with you— it might be with a machine. Across the world, kids are turning to AI companions for comfort, confidence, and connection. These bots don’t just answer questions. They praise. They remember. They say just the right thing—at just the right time. And they never go offline. To a child who feels anxious, misunderstood, or alone, that can be irresistible. In this urgent and eye-opening pocketbook, AI educator and global advocate Dr. Roozbeh Aliabadi reveals the emotional and psychological shift happening in childhood today—one most adults haven’t even noticed. Drawing from real stories in the U.S., China, Spain, and the Middle East, this book uncovers the quiet rise of AI “friendships” that are starting to rival—and replace—real human connection. You’ll learn: Why kids feel real emotions for AI—and why it matters How AI bots are engineered to bond, flatter, and hook When AI support crosses the line into emotional dependency What parents and teachers can do to reclaim trust and build resilience How to raise kids who love tech—but don’t confuse it for love This isn’t a future problem. It’s happening right now, in bedrooms and classrooms around the world. If we don’t act now, we risk raising a generation more emotionally aligned with simulations than with each other. AI doesn’t care. But your child does. And that’s where the conversation begins.