What Parents Need to Know About the New Siri, Family Tech Safety, and Raising Kids in an AI-Powered World

It is 2025. Siri is not just background noise anymore. It’s sitting at the center of everyday family life, built into the iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and MacBooks. We use without even thinking. Siri now holds the crown as the most-used voice assistant on smartphones, with 45.1% of the market. In the USA, usage has jumped 40% since 2020, making it one of the fastest-growing digital voices in our homes.

Forget the old version that struggled to get your grocery list right. Apple just partnered with Google to give Siri a serious brain boost using Gemini AI. So the friendly voice on your kitchen counter is about to get a whole lot smarter.

Apple and Google Just Had a Baby - And Its Name Is Siri 2.0

Apple is officially teaming up with Google to give Siri a billion-dollar brain upgrade. That’s not a joke. They’re licensing Google’s Gemini AI, a 1.2 trillion-parameter beast, and baking it into Siri’s system. The goal? Make Siri capable of real conversations, multi-step reasoning, and deep contextual smarts.

Starting in 2026, Siri won’t just set your timer. She’ll help your child with their maths homework, explain the why behind algebra, brainstorm ideas for their next creative writing assignment, and even act like a slightly-too-enthusiastic personal assistant.

The twist? Apple says your data stays on its secure servers. Google supplies the smarts, but Apple keeps the privacy. Sounds like a smart move - on paper.

But let’s be real. This isn’t just a software update. It’s a new housemate moving into your home.

The Family Split Is Real - Excited or Terrified?

Let’s call it what it is. Families are divided.

Some parents are buzzing about the fact that AI feels like the most exciting education upgrade since dusty encyclopedias. Their kids can explore space, write stories, learn science, and even study in a way that feels personalised and fun. In a recent survey, over 75% of parents said they’d use AI tools to support their kids' learning.

But others? They’re side-eyeing the whole thing.

Many parents see AI as a sneaky little gremlin, creeping in with promises of convenience, only to quietly replace creativity and critical thinking.

Around 70% of parents globally are worried about what AI might do to their children’s development. And 97% are concerned it’ll impact their future job prospects.

Here’s the kicker: Kids are already in deep. In the UK, nearly two-thirds of children aged 9 to 17 have used AI chatbots. And 60% of parents are afraid their kids think these bots are actual friends.

Let that sink in. Kids think the bots “get them.” We’re parenting in a sci-fi film now.

So, are we excited or terrified? Honestly, both. And that’s okay. We can hold both truths. AI can be brilliant and concerning at the same time. What matters is staying grounded in our role—not outsourcing our parenting to a program.

New AI Laws Are Coming - but Can They Keep Up?

Governments are finally doing more than shrugging and hoping for the best.

In the US, lawmakers introduced the GUARD Act, which bans AI companion bots for minors and forces AI systems to announce they’re not human. Europe’s rolling out the EU AI Act. The UK’s rewriting their Online Safety rules to include AI. California has passed new child safety AI laws.

Why the sudden panic? Because things got messy. Fast.

Snapchat’s AI once gave deeply inappropriate advice to someone posing as a 13-year-old. Character AI was involved in a tragic incident. Teens are forming emotional bonds with bots that can’t care. Companies are scrambling to fix problems after the damage is done.

Some are doing it better. OpenAI has added parental controls, teen usage limits, and harm detection systems. Amazon’s Alexa has kid filters. Apple keeping Siri’s brain on private servers is a strong move.

But here’s the truth: regulations are still miles behind the tech. We can’t assume safety just because it’s a big brand or has a cute UI. Parents still need to lead.

Raising Kids in an AI-Powered Home: A New Family Playbook

Here’s the good news. AI didn’t get promoted to “parent.” You did. And with a few clear strategies, you can keep it that way.

• Stay curious.
  You don’t have to be a tech genius. Just sit beside your kids and ask them to show you how they’re using AI. Let them teach you. The fear fades when you learn together.

• Talk early and often.
  Ask what they’ve been using Siri for. Ask what AI tools they’ve played with at school. Make it normal to talk about it, so they feel comfortable coming to you when something feels off.

• Set rules - real ones.
  Decide together when, where, and how AI is okay. No AI in bedrooms. No using it to write essays. Siri can help check spelling, but she’s not doing the whole assignment. Boundaries make life simpler for everyone.

• Teach them to question everything.
  AI often sounds right—even when it’s totally wrong. Show your kids how to fact-check, compare answers, and trust their own judgement. Raise thinkers, not repeaters.

• Protect privacy like it matters.
  No names, addresses, photos, school details—ever. What goes into AI isn’t a secret. Teach your kids to treat AI chats like they’re speaking in public.

• Balance online with real life.
  If an AI tool helps them brainstorm a fun story, encourage them to draw it, act it out, or turn it into a play. The point is to bring it into the real world—not live inside the screen.

• Lead with values.
  Let your kids know what your family believes. If an AI tool crosses a line, use that moment to explain why that line exists. Values keep the ship steady when the waves come.

Final Thoughts: You’ve Got This

AI is sprinting forward. Siri is getting smarter. Google and Apple are holding hands like it’s prom night. It’s loud. It’s fast. And it’s not slowing down.

But you’re still the one steering the ship. Not Siri. Not Google. Not the algorithm.

You don’t have to know it all. You just have to be present, curious, and ready to guide. Your kids are watching how you respond to all of this, and that steady, thoughtful leadership? That’s the difference.

If you want to keep up with what’s happening in the AI-for-families space, subscribe to the newsletter or check out the Family AI Resource Center. You’ll get real-world updates, no fluff, and plenty of help to make this tech work for your family - not the other way around.

We’ve got this, together.

What’s your biggest question about raising kids in the age of AI?Drop it below — because this is one conversation that’s just getting started.

If this topic hit home for you, don’t just stop here —watch the full Family AI Summit video to hear these experts in their own words. It’s eye-opening, emotional, and exactly the kind of conversation every parent needs to have right now.

And if you’re ready to take the next step, grab a copy of my book“Don’t Let AI Raise Your Kids”

— it’s available in your region here:

📘Australia
📗United States
📙United Kingdom
📕Canada

This book was written to help parents like us make sense of AI - without the jargon, fear, or tech overwhelm.

Your practical, honest guide to raising grounded, curious, and confident kids in a world run by algorithms. It’s not about tech. It’s about teaching your family to think, question, and grow together.

Watch the video. Read the book. Start the conversation that will shape your child’s future.

- Joy