Michelle Fang, a tech community manager based in San Francisco, observed a significant shift when she visited her father in their New Jersey home last year. Her father, a first-generation Chinese American, had started using ChatGPT to write emails and create work presentations. This was a stark change from the past when Fang would print out his PowerPoints and help edit his English. “I would go in with a pen to mark everything up,” Fang, 25, recalls. Now, her father no longer asks for her help with English grammar or technical language; instead, he relies on ChatGPT. “He’s replaced me with ChatGPT,” Fang noted.
This is not an isolated experience. Many adult children of immigrants who grew up assisting their parents with language barriers are finding that these duties are gradually being taken over by artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT.
Monica Mikael, a 30-year-old nurse practitioner in Los Angeles, shared a similar experience. Her Egyptian American parents, who have struggled with written English since they immigrated to the U.S. 30 years ago, relied on her for years to help with their communications. Since high school, Mikael has been writing and rewriting emails for her parents, who run a small medical practice, to help them coordinate with patients and staff.
For many immigrants who learn English as a second language, even minor grammar mistakes can create significant anxiety in professional settings. A survey of over 200 East, Southeast, and South Asian women in the tech industry found that many felt discriminated against because of their accents and grammar usage.
When ChatGPT was launched in November 2022, Mikael saw an opportunity. She quickly introduced her parents to the tool, teaching them how to use it to ask questions and draft communications. “I downloaded ChatGPT onto their phones and showed them how to ask it questions,” Mikael said. “After a month or so, they were using it entirely on their own.” Now, her parents rarely ask for her help with basic communication tasks like sending simple emails. While Mikael still assists with more important matters, she noted a decrease in daily interruptions. “It’s net positive for our relationship,” she said. “Our interactions are less task-based, so it’s made us closer.”
The trend of adopting AI tools like ChatGPT is particularly pronounced among Asian American adults. According to a 2023 Pew Research Center poll, they are the most likely racial group to have used generative artificial intelligence tools for purposes such as entertainment, work tasks, or learning something new. They are more than twice as likely to use these tools compared to their white peers.
However, for many adult children of immigrants, watching their parents adopt new technology comes with a mix of feelings. Sheeta Verma, a tech marketer in San Francisco, has guided her parents through both the benefits and pitfalls of using ChatGPT. “AI tools aren’t always correct,” Verma said. “I had to teach them how to use prompts and to spot misinformation.” She is also concerned that her parents’ co-workers might detect their use of AI or that the rapid pace of technological change could leave her aging parents behind. Her mother, who was laid off from her company last year, is now navigating the challenges of AI-scanned resumes. “There’s a lot of learning that has to accompany AI. It’s changing so fast, and there’s not a lot of time to walk older people through it,” Verma explained.
Not all adult children are entirely relieved by this technological shift. Some miss the bonding that came with helping their parents. “It’s a little bittersweet, but I’m glad he has the 24/7 support that I can’t give him,” Fang said, reflecting on her father’s growing independence from her help.
Verma, too, has mixed feelings. She noticed a decrease in calls from her mother and initially wondered if her mother was upset with her. “And then I realized she and all my Indian aunties are using ChatGPT,” Verma said. Despite the initial skepticism, she is ultimately happy that her mother is embracing this new tool. “I’m happy that she’s embracing this new tool,” she added.
The advent of ChatGPT and similar AI tools is redefining the dynamics between immigrant parents and their adult children. While it eases the burden on these children, it also alters a significant aspect of their relationship with their parents, shifting interactions away from practical support toward a more emotional and personal connection. The new technology represents both a challenge and an opportunity as families navigate this evolving landscape.
