Human Raised - by Dana Suskind (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

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

"A stunning book about how to protect our children--and our humanity--in the age of AI." --Adam Grant

"Hope is not lost. It's right here. If there is a young person in your life, Human Raised is for you." --Angela Duckworth

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.

Review Quotes

"Human Raised makes a powerful, science-based case for why children's developing minds need real human relationships, not simulations, especially in the earliest years. As AI threatens to do to children's relationships what social media did to their attention, Dana Suskind gives parents a clear understanding of what must be preserved--and why human care, imperfection, and presence are the irreplaceable foundations of a healthy childhood". -Jonathan Haidt, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Anxious Generation and Social Psychologist, New York University

"Dana Suskind has done something remarkable: she takes our deepest fears about AI and children and transforms them into hope--and a clear path forward. A must-read for everyone raising a child in the age of AI." -Eve Rodsky, New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play

"A stunning book about how to protect our children--and our humanity--in the age of AI. With wisdom and compassion, Dana Suskind delivers a master class on care, curiosity, and connection. It's a must-read for parents, teachers, policymakers, and anyone who gives a damn about the future." -Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again, and host of the podcasts Re: Thinking and The Curiosity Shop

"We shape our tools, and then our tools shape us. How will AI shape our children? This is the question Dana Suskind poses and answers-- reminding us that the outcome is, ultimately, up to us. Only humans can raise humans, she argues, because only humans care. So what's a parent to do? Hope is not lost. It's right here. If there is a young person in your life, Human-Raised is for you." -Angela Duckworth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grit

"Human Raised is a warm, thoughtful and deeply reassuring guide packed with practical wisdom rooted in the latest science. As parents grapple with how to use AI-informed technologies to support their children without undermining human connection, Suskind offers clear, actionable advice that is both timely and invaluable." -Katy Milkman, National Bestselling author of How to Change and Professor at the Wharton School

"Dr. Dana Suskind has written an insightful and exciting book that explores parents' deepest concerns: How will AI impact my young child? Will it change their developing brains and influence their values? Dr. Suskind examines current and upcoming AI devices, including machine-based "companions" that form bonds with children and next-generation AI robot "caregivers" that may replace everyday parental activities. Told through the lens of an empathetic pediatrician, this book provides practical, easy-to-understand advice based on proven, cutting-edge brain science. This extraordinary book should be essential reading for parenting in the age of AI." -Dr. Patricia Kuhl, Director of the Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences at the University of Washington, and co-author of The Scientist in the Crib

"The compassionate, brilliant, and engaging Dr. Dana Suskind has written a book to guide parents in using AI to gain more bandwidth so that they don't sacrifice precious time with their children. Parents will learn how AI can help them lower their cognitive load to be more present and responsive, and why the young child's brain needs to be human-raised. The bottom line is that AI should assist the caregivers, not give the care." -Claudia Goldin, author of Career and Family: Women's Century-Long Journey toward Equity and Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences

"The title of Dana Suskind's Human Raised suggests the harrowing possibility of an alternative; she argues, bracingly, it is an alternative we may be sleepwalking towards. As increasingly general AI permeates ever more aspects of daily life, where must we draw a boundary? Suskind's answer--care--is both scientifically grounded and profoundly moving. Human Raised is both humane and urgent. A vital book for our moment." --Brian Christian, bestselling author of The Alignment Problem and coauthor of Algorithms to Live By

"Raising a generation that can truly thrive alongside AI requires foundations that only humans can build. Dana Suskind makes that case brilliantly -- and backs it with the science to prove it. This book is indispensable for parents in the AI era." -Eric Schmidt, KBE, Former CEO and Chairman, Google; Chair and CEO, Relativity Space

"How do we utilize the power of AI to raise our children, while safeguarding the nurturing interactions and care that make us human? In this captivating read, one of the foremost researchers on child development helps parents navigate these challenges and make sense of key discoveries of neuroscience that provide crucial insights for protecting childhood, human flourishing and the future of our species." -Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills, OECD

"In this timely cri de coeur, Dana Suskind combines the passion of Doug Rushkoff's Team Human with the wisdom of Neil Postman's The Disappearance of Childhood -- along with a scientist's rigor -- to get to the heart of what makes us human. It isn't hyperbole to say that AI has the potential to transform childhood, relationships, and ultimately the future of our species, and this book provides guidance every parent needs to protect their kids. -Julie Scelfo, Founder and Executive Director, Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA)

About the Author

Dana Suskind, MD, is the New York Times bestselling author of Parent Nation and Thirty Million Words. She is the founder and co-director of the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health, founding director of the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program, and professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at the University of Chicago. Dr. Suskind has authored over forty-five scientific publications and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a Fellow for the Council on Early Childhood. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Economist, Forbes, NPR, and Freakonomics.