Avni Patel Thompson: Can AI help with the chaos of family life?

Can AI help with the chaos of family life?

Tech innovator Avni Patel Thompson designed an app to shield busy parents from the chaos of scheduling school pickups, coordinating playdates, planning birthday parties and more — but as the product developed, something felt off. What might we lose when AI smooths over the friction of everyday family life? Patel Thompson explores her surprising discovery and how you can leverage AI to connect more deeply with the ones you love.

When family life feels like a blur of missed pickups, endless emails, and forgotten library books, AI tools can step in to ease the overload. But as one parent realized while building an app to manage the mess, some friction actually forges the bonds that matter. Instead of erasing every hassle, the best technology creates space for the meaningful, messy interactions that make a family. Even the chaos of a Tuesday afternoon can hold moments worth holding onto.