For many immigrant families, translating and assisting with English has been a routine task for adult children. However, with the rise of ChatGPT, this role is increasingly being taken over by technology.
Michelle Fang, a 25-year-old tech community manager from San Francisco, observed this shift when visiting her father in New Jersey last year. Previously, Fang would help her Chinese American father with his emails and work presentations by editing his English and printing out his PowerPoints.
Now, her father uses this app for these tasks, leaving her skills less utilized at home. “He doesn’t ask me to help with English, grammar, and technical language anymore — he’s replaced me with ChatGPT,” Fang noted.
This experience is common among other adult children of immigrants. Many of them, like Fang, have stepped into the role of translators for their parents, a duty that extends into adulthood.
The advent of ChatGPT has offloaded some of these responsibilities onto the AI tool.
Monica Mikael, a 30-year-old nurse practitioner in Los Angeles, began assisting her Egyptian American parents with their English communications in high school.
Her parents, who run a small medical practice, relied on her to handle emails and correct their spelling and grammar. For them, even minor mistakes could lead to workplace anxiety.
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When ChatGPT launched in November 2022, Mikael quickly introduced the tool to her parents.
“I downloaded it onto their phones and showed them how to use it,” she said. After a short time, her parents became proficient in using the tool for basic communication tasks.
“Now, they barely ask me for help,” Mikael shared. Noting that the technology has improved their relationship by reducing daily interruptions.
Asian American adults have emerged as early adopters of ChatGPT. A 2023 Pew Research Center poll indicates that they are more likely than their white peers to use generative AI tools for various tasks. While this adoption brings efficiency, it also comes with challenges.
Sheeta Verma, 25, from San Francisco, has helped her parents navigate ChatGPT’s advantages and limitations. She’s concerned about AI’s accuracy and the potential for her aging parents to fall behind in the rapidly evolving technological landscape.
For some, the replacement of their role with ChatGPT brings mixed feelings. Fang admits it’s “a little bittersweet” but is reassured that her father now has constant support. Verma, noticing fewer calls from her mother, initially wondered if her mother was upset.
“Then I realized she and all my Indian aunties are using ChatGPT,” Verma said with a smile. “I’m happy that she’s embracing this new tool.”
Despite the convenience ChatGPT offers, the personal connection that came with helping parents remains a cherished aspect for many adult children.
Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/immigrant-parents-replacing-kids-chatgpt-rcna167618
Learn: https://exploration-echo.com/2024/07/08/artificial-intelligence-change-of-world/