Human Raised

From New York Times bestselling author Dana Suskind, a timely, urgent guide to parenting in the age of artificial intelligence—and protecting what matters most in childhood As AI enters nurseries, playrooms, and classrooms, parents are being sold a “smart” childhood at every turn. This book is a guide to protecting the most important label of all: human raised. In her groundbreaking book Thirty Million Words, Dr. Suskind revealed the extraordinary power of parent talk and interaction in building children’s brains. Now, with the advent of artificial intelligence, the stakes of that nurturing interaction have become even clearer. New AI applications demonstrate what technology can replicate—but they also illuminate what it cannot: the capacity of human interaction to build not just children’s skills but their very capacity for human connection. Human Raised reveals the possibilities and perils of using AI and related technologies for child-rearing. From monitors that decode cries, to smart cribs that soothe babies to sleep, to interactive chatbots designed to engage an inquisitive toddler, the parenting landscape is shifting fast—and Dr. Suskind helps parents navigate this uncharted territory with clarity and confidence. Readers will learn four guiding principles for raising children alongside AI: Human connection is irreplaceable Own your imperfections Protect the early years Enhance—don’t replace—connection The book also offers a concrete evaluation framework to help parents (and anyone shaping children’s environments) assess individual technologies, along with evidence-based guidance for fostering the skills children will need to thrive in an AI-driven future. Critical thinking, empathy, creativity, and resilience form what Suskind calls the Human Edge—capabilities no algorithm can replicate and no artificial teacher can cultivate. Drawing from neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and the lived experience of countless families, Human Raised prepares parents to act as essential guardians to the gateway between AI and their children’s developing minds—keeping human connection, in all its beautiful imperfection, at the center of childhood.