Roy at the kitchen table
Broccoli, patterns, and how we use AI together as a family.
Technology is only an “alienation” tool if you allow it to be. 🥦
In my corner of LinkedIn, the AI discussion is deafening. As a CTO, I rarely feel the need to add to the noise. But as a dad and a “technical friend,” I feel a disconnect I want to address.
There’s a common fear that using AI at home or with your kids is the final nail in the “alienation coffin” started by the smartphone. At my kitchen table, I’ve found the exact opposite to be true.
My son pointed at his plate: “Dad! The big broccoli is made of tiny broccolis, and those are made of even tinier ones.” We didn’t just talk about the fractal nature of our world; we asked “Roy” (the name my kids gave our AI) to help us visualize it.
“Roy” doesn’t replace our interaction; he enhances it.
Here’s a fractal sketch to play with. Change the spread, depth, or number of branches to see how a repeating rule changes the whole shape.
- We co-create: inventing complex worlds and lore together.
- We build: designing games, from simple logic to deep stories.
- We learn: seeing the repeating patterns of nature in seconds.
The smartphone often took us out of the room. Used well, generative AI puts us right back in the center of it, helping us get creative together as a family.
As a CTO, I see the benchmarks all day. But as a dad, I see the wonder. Don’t miss the chance to use this tech to get closer to the people who matter most.
Use these new tools for play. Find the limits and build your intuitions when the stakes are low. Once you’ve done that, you’ll probably find yourself reaching for them at work, too.
Robin Westerlundh
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