California dad’s hilarious encounter with AI while helping son with homework

California Dad’s Hilarious Encounter with AI While Helping Son with Homework

Orange County, California – In a delightful and unexpected turn of events, father Alan sought tech assistance to help his son Jacob with a complicated third-grade math homework problem, only to receive a comically unhelpful response from Samsung’s AI assistant, Bixby. The incident, captured on camera by Alan’s wife Julieta Meza, has since garnered attention and laughter from viewers.

Julieta Meza shared the footage with Newsweek, showcasing her partner Alan’s attempts to navigate the technological route for homework help. The Meza family, like many around the world, finds themselves turning to generative AI tools for academic assistance. According to a 2024 AXIOS survey, 53 percent of students aged 13 to 18 admit to using AI for their homework, a trend that highlights the growing reliance on tech resources in education.

A Dual Language Dilemma

Jacob, who is enrolled in both English and Spanish classes, occasionally brings home assignments in Spanish, posing a challenge for his non-fluent parents. Julieta Meza explained, “Jacob is in dual classes, both English and Spanish, and we sometimes don’t understand the Spanish word problems.” This linguistic obstacle, combined with busy work schedules, often leads the Mezas to seek alternative means of academic support for their son. While Jacob typically receives aid from staff at an after-school program, this particular math problem required his parents’ intervention as it remained unfinished.

A Tech-Savvy but Comical Attempt

On this occasion, Alan, faced with a challenging math problem in Spanish, decided to consult Bixby for help. Julieta, busy with dinner preparations, overheard the interaction and decided to film what she anticipated would be a humorous exchange.

The video begins with Alan asking, “Hey Bixby, can you help me with this puzzle?” To which Bixby replies, “I didn’t understand that.” Alan’s repeat attempts yielded the same unhelpful response—a comedic loop that culminated in Bixby’s unanticipated advice: “Hmm, it might be best if you got human help for human homework.” This elicited laughter from Alan, and was all captured by Julieta, further highlighting the ludicrous yet endearing limitations of AI assistance.

A Laugh and a Lesson

Despite the comedic setback, Alan and Julieta persisted, and Bixby eventually suggested some YouTube links that proved useful. Reflecting on the incident, Julieta expressed a common concern among parents: the difficulties posed by homework not just for students, but also for those tasked with helping them.

“Kids already attend school for close to 7 hours and do a lot of learning in class. Teachers are experts and went to school and learned the materials they teach our kids; it’s their specialty area,” Julieta remarked. She voiced her worries over the complexity of homework assignments, which can sometimes overwhelm parents, prompting them to rely increasingly on digital tools for assistance.

As the Meza family continues to navigate the intricacies of modern educational demands, their experience serves as an amusing yet telling illustration of the evolving role of AI in everyday tasks. Whether or not Bixby will be called upon again remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: technology’s partnership with education comes with its own set of unique challenges and humorous moments.

Source: Noah Wire Services