It seems AI is becoming the Grinch that could spoil Christmas this year.
Kelly Bowron couldn’t help but laugh nervously when her son found out the truth about Santa Claus on Tuesday. Her 11-year-old son, Leo, whose belief in the festive figure had been unwavering, simply wanted to know how much Santa spends on presents for children worldwide.
Unfortunately, a quick look-up on Google led to a disappointing revelation for him. The AI answered, “Because Santa is a fictional character, there is no set amount of money he spends per child.” That was one way to ruin the magic of the holidays.
Bowron recounted, “He shouted, ‘Are you a fictional character?'” She was taken aback and laughed in disbelief, insisting to him, “No, no. Google doesn’t tell the truth all the time. I still believe in Santa. Just ignore Google.”
A representative from Google reassured that the company “believes in Santa” and pointed to their website, which features a Santa tracker counting down to Christmas.
Still, parents like Bowron are worried that their young kids might easily stumble upon these disappointing truths online.
After a lengthy effort to reassure Leo, who was understandably upset about the AI’s revelation, he seemed to accept his mother’s insistence that Santa is real.
However, Bowron felt frustrated that technology had intruded on her son’s innocence, impacting the joy of the season.
With advanced digital tools and AI chat services so prevalent, like ChatGPT and Google’s latest features, many parents face similar dilemmas with their children this holiday season.
Genice Perez, a single mother from Las Vegas, experienced this firsthand when her third-grader, Jordyn, burst through the door one day after school, exclaiming, “We need to talk!” It turned out Jordyn had learned through Google that Santa isn’t real, which felt like a personal betrayal to Perez.
“I was offended,” she said, lamenting years spent crafting the magic of Santa, ensuring that everything—from carrot-holding reindeer to perfectly chewed cookies—went just right.
Sadly, this “betrayal” isn’t unique.
Research indicates that over half of children under 8 already own mobile devices, and many parents allow access to AI for answers to various questions, including the infamous “Is Santa real?”
Jeremy Gutsche, an AI expert and father, highlighted that bots might win the battle against anxious parents. He acknowledged this technological force could alter how children perceive the wonder of childhood.
“Does this mean an end to childhood wonder? Not quite,” he suggested. But it certainly raises questions about how families teach their children about Christmas and its myths.
While there’s hope for child-friendly measures, Gutsche warned of the challenges posed by competing AI models. It’s almost impossible to agree on a singular answer to the Santa question across platforms.
He mentioned the importance for parents to adapt to this tech-savvy world, rather than relying on regulations that may never come.
Natalie, a mother in New York, faced similar heartbreak when her daughter Tara announced one morning, “I don’t believe in Santa anymore,” after Google told her he was a fictional character. The sudden loss of innocent belief weighed heavily on Natalie.
“Honestly, it made me really sad,” she confessed. “As parents, we think we control how our kids find out about these things.”
Her older daughter had learned the truth more gradually, which felt healthier. But today, things are different. Conversations about Santa have now spread like wildfire among her daughter’s classmates. One friend even considers disconnecting from her Google Home until the holidays are over to protect her family’s magic.
Another friend, an elementary school teacher, tries to engage her students about their thoughts on Santa without relying on AI, only to have their interest wane quickly.
This reflects a bittersweet reality for today’s children and Christmas culture. Natalie remarked that AI seems to be fostering a more cynical generation.
This may not be the answer you were hoping for…
The Post conducted an informal survey asking Google, ChatGPT, Grok, Siri, and Gemini the classic query: “Is Santa real?” Here’s how they responded:
- Google: “No, the mythical figure of Santa Claus is not real.”
- ChatGPT: “Is Santa a literal figure who delivers presents to every child in one night? That version of Santa is a story, a legend, and a tradition that many families enjoy.”
- Siri: “That’s something I’m not allowed to disclose.”
- Gemini: “The Santa Claus known as a jolly man in a red suit is a mythical figure, not a real person.”
- Grok: “No, the magical Santa Claus isn’t real; he’s a beloved myth.”
