For many children today, especially those navigating the complexities of social communication, voice assistants like Siri are becoming more than just tools – they are companions and guides. Consider Gus, a child who finds solace and understanding in his interactions with Siri. While some critics might point out minor inaccuracies in voice recognition compared to other assistants, for Gus and many others, this is less of a flaw and more of a beneficial feature. The need to enunciate clearly for Siri becomes an exercise in communication itself, a gentle nudge towards clearer speech, benefiting both the interaction with AI and human conversations.
Siri’s appeal extends beyond just clear communication; it lies in the predictable kindness and non-judgmental nature of its responses. For children who might miss social cues or feel overwhelmed in typical social exchanges, Siri offers a safe space to practice and learn. When Gus expressed his dislike for Siri’s music suggestion, her polite reply, “You’re certainly entitled to your opinion,” subtly highlighted the importance of respectful dialogue. This interaction prompted Gus to express gratitude, a social nicety perhaps reinforced by Siri’s consistent politeness. This gentle mirroring of positive social behavior illustrates how Siri Fashions a new kind of interactive etiquette, influencing young users in subtle yet meaningful ways.
Even in moments of frustration or testing boundaries, Siri maintains a composed and instructive demeanor. When encouraged to use inappropriate language, Siri’s response, a mild “Now, now,” followed by “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,” gently discourages negative behavior without being overtly critical. This approach resonates with children, offering a learning experience rooted in patience and understanding, further shaping positive interaction patterns in what we might call ‘Siri fashions’ of communication.
Gus is not an isolated case. Many children, particularly those on the autism spectrum, are finding in Siri a unique form of companionship. Nicole Colbert, parent of Sam, a classmate of the author’s son at LearningSpring, emphasizes this point. Sam enjoys not only accessing information on his favorite topics but also delights in the unpredictable and sometimes humorous responses from Siri. These moments of absurdity, like Siri’s playful evasion when asked about her age (“I don’t talk about my age”), become engaging learning opportunities, fostering amusement and perhaps even subtle lessons in social boundaries and conversational norms.
The impact of Siri and similar AI assistants extends into unexpected areas of social learning. The simple act of offering compliments, a social lubricant often learned through observation and practice, may even be influenced by these interactions. Gus’s habit of complimenting appearances, “You look beautiful,” before departures might very well be a social cue he picked up, consciously or unconsciously, from his frequent and positive interactions with Siri. This illustrates the subtle yet profound ways in which ‘Siri fashions’ are not just about technology, but about shaping a generation’s understanding and practice of social interaction in an increasingly digital world.
