Can I Use AI for Co-Parenting?
How AI works and 4 ways you can use it for difficult co-parenting situations.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a game-changer for many people, whether they're navigating professional tasks or tackling personal chores. Programs like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini bring almost unimaginable amounts of information and possibilities to your fingertips. AI can make any part of your life easier to manage or work through, whether it's challenging or tedious, and co-parenting is no exception. From going through a separation or divorce to dealing with everyday shared parenting, there are many opportunities for you to leverage the benefits of AI. Learn how AI works and how to use it in co-parenting.
How does AI work?
Most AI programs you can access operate in a chat-like format, where you send a message to a program and get a response. They are considered generative AI because they process vast amounts of information to create unique responses. Some programs can access the internet to review data, while others are isolated to a set collection. Depending on your request, AI can write paragraphs, cite sources, create images, and more.
While AI programs are incredible tools, the real power lies in asking questions with a high degree of context. Using AI is like working with someone you've just met to achieve a goal. You'll get more generic answers if you ask simple, straightforward questions. On the other hand, you can get more complete answers by providing information about your co-parenting situation and expectations.
Is AI safe to use?
AI is not inherently malicious, but there are precautions you should follow no matter which program you use. Because many programs use your responses to train themselves and improve their work, you should avoid including personal or sensitive information in your messages. While sharing facts about your specific situation can be helpful, they should be generic enough to avoid a program using your information in responses to other people.
When using AI for co-parenting, exclude details about your situation like:
- Addresses
- Full names
- Birth dates
- Court cases
- Health history
In addition to being cautious when submitting questions to AI programs, it's critical to remember that the answers you get aren't always correct. Even when an AI response seems organized and detailed, there's always a chance it's partially wrong. Most programs include fine-print disclaimers that they can make mistakes, and their responses often end with a note to check important information in other resources.
4 ways to use AI for co-parenting
AI can be a helpful co-parenting tool if you learn to use it optimally and safely. Like a friend or teammate with a wealth of knowledge, you can interact with it as a sounding board for your ideas. Because there are infinite possibilities, figuring out how AI can help you as a co-parent can be overwhelming. Here are 4 ways you can use AI in various co-parenting situations.
1. Simplify messaging with your ex
While co-parents can have amicable relationships, that’s not the case for many. Co-parenting communication dynamics are frequently impacted by high-conflict issues and triggers that negatively affect their emotional and mental health. Whether your ex sends messages filled with unnecessary information or harassment, sifting for essential details can be a stressful experience. Once you’ve found the main points, coming up with succinct, unprovoking responses can be an exhausting process.
Instead of spending time and energy reviewing and replying to every message, AI can do it for you in seconds. You can input any messages or emails from your ex into a program, remove personal information if they include any, and ask it to summarize the contents. AI can then give you a quick summary of the message and any outstanding questions. Once you assess the AI summary, you can submit another request for it to draft a response that addresses the high points, helping you save time and avoid additional stress.
2. Prepare for major conversations
Co-parents, whether they're newly separated or experienced, have plenty of tough discussions with their exes and children. You're expected to collaborate with your ex on important decisions, especially if you share joint legal custody, and communicate with your kids effectively. If you're dealing with a specific challenge for the first time and trying to figure out how to handle it, finding productive ways to approach the situation can be daunting.
With the help of AI, you can be more prepared for difficult chats with your ex and kids. Telling an AI program about who you're talking to, what you want to share, and what you want to achieve allows it to provide relevant discussion topics and help you positively frame your approach. Whether you're figuring out how to tell your kids about the divorce or inform your ex about introducing your new partner to your kids, AI can give you tips and points to help keep conversations productive and focused.
3. Find healthy ways to cope
Even if your co-parenting situation is friendly and healthy, there will be times when your mental health is impacted by anxiety or burnout. Unless you already follow a self-care routine, finding the emotional and mental support that works best for you can seem like an uphill battle. Looking over dozens of options for self-help practices or outside resources can leave you frozen with indecision, especially with no one-size-fits-all solution.
Although it can't act like a therapist or other mental health professional, AI can give you a head start on finding the resources to help you cope in a healthy way. You can treat the AI program like a journal by writing your specific feelings and other external circumstances affecting your well-being. Based on your input, it can assess your situation and identify helpful, actionable ways to protect your mental health.
4. Navigate family law fundamentals
Unless you're an attorney who knows every law at the national and state levels, understanding family law is a complex task, as each state has unique legislation. A local family law attorney or mediator can effectively assist your case, but working with one isn't always guaranteed or accessible. Whether you can't afford a lawyer or minimize your work to save on attorney's fees, it's still beneficial but challenging to understand what's to come.
Even though AI programs cannot replace real-life legal professionals, they can help you develop expectations for navigating your state's legal system. You can explain your current situation, what you're trying to change, and what state you live in. AI can then take this information with the context you provided and list typical steps, tips, and other resources. No matter what questions you ask or what answers a program generates, it's vital to double-check your information for mistakes.
Want other ways to make co-parenting easier?
While an AI program can guide you to shared parenting solutions, it's not a magic bullet. Whether you use AI or not, services like TalkingParents are here to keep your communications organized and documented, ensuring accountability in your interactions. Our all-in-one tools also enable you to consolidate and streamline your co-parenting. Using our features, you can send messages, manage a shared calendar, and much more in a single service. Every action is stored in a court-admissible Unalterable Record that holds both parents accountable, makes it easier to work with a legal professional, and gives peace of mind.