The AI Problem No School Is Talking About
In the latest episode of In My Kitchen with Yvonne, Yvonne welcomes Gonzalez Barida Kamen, founder of the Wonder Foundation, into her warm, reflective kitchen. Together, they delve into an urgent but under-discussed challenge: the quiet surge in young people turning to AI for support, advice, and even comfort sometimes before they ask a real human.
The Silent Shift: AI as Confidant
The episode opens with a striking statistic, almost a third of young people now consistently use AI not just for homework help, but for managing their mental health and personal dilemmas. As Yvonne observes at 00:10, it’s not just about technology, it’s about trust and belonging. The fact that AI is seen as non-judgmental, always available, and instant makes it an appealing “someone” to turn to, especially for those who feel misunderstood or burdensome to the adults around them.
Gonzalez Barida Kamen, whose organization supports young women globally, voices both appreciation and concern. She celebrates AI as a tool for academic support and information (01:34), but emphasizes that what truly changes people is connection the irreplaceable human touch that builds confidence, resilience, and the sense that “you matter.”
When Tech Fills an Emotional Gap
Gif by KillJammins on Giphy
The heart of the episode beats strongest in their exploration of what happens when AI begins to fill gaps left by strained social and education systems. Gonzalez Barida Kamen shares vivid insights from her work with refugee and migrant girls (05:04), who, often uprooted and navigating new cultures alone, become particularly reliant on AI for help.
These students face unique barriers language, trauma, isolation. In theory, AI support might seem a lifeline. And Gonzalez Barida Kamen agrees it’s “better than nothing” (14:08), especially for academic catch-up when government programs end and human tutors are withdrawn for cost reasons. But AI, she warns, is no substitute for genuine human mentoring. Where a trusted adult can notice anxiety behind an answer or encourage a child to dream and plan, AI offers quick solutions but no real love or challenge.
A moving segment at 27:05 examines why children might trust AI over parents or teachers. For many, it’s about safety not being a burden, not fearing judgment, and seeking affirmation. Gonzalez Barida Kamen notes that for kids carrying family worries or feeling out of place, the idea that “AI can’t hurt me” is powerfully tempting.
Yet there’s a subtle danger. When technology mimics a caring feedback loop, it risks becoming anthropomorphized, a “who” instead of a “what.” The illusion of friendship breeds tolerance for superficial connection but erodes the vital skill of navigating real relationships, with all their joys and inevitable disappointments (30:55). Gonzalez Barida Kamen cautions that learning to repair, to deal with conflict, or to share (as in her story of nine siblings squeezed in a bed at 34:03) is how we grow. No chatbot can teach that.
Reimagining Support: Creative Coexistence
So what’s the way forward? Instead of banning or fearing AI, both guests argue for creative integration (45:06). If AI can mark papers and save teachers time (47:52), perhaps the human energy saved could be rechanneled into mentorship, community engagement, and real-life connection, especially for those most at risk of falling through the cracks.
Parents and schools must ask: “Can every child name at least one trusted adult?” (53:18). If not, the gap will be filled, by someone, or something. The challenge is to ensure that technology acts as a bridge, not a barrier, and that every child sees themselves as worthy of both attention and affection.
Are we losing the human touch in education?
The conversation highlighted several areas of interest:
Together, Yvonne and Gonzalez Barida Kamen dive into:
The reasons young people increasingly choose AI as a confidant, speed, accessibility, non-judgment, and privacy (10:51).
The critical role of human connection, mentorship, and love in supporting young people, particularly girls from marginalized or immigrant backgrounds (01:51, 05:04).
The dangers of relying solely on AI for emotional support, the illusion of relationship, the risk of further isolation, and the growing gap of trusted adults (30:55).
Government education policy shifts: replacing post-pandemic tutoring programs with AI tools, and what this means for vulnerable students (06:35, 13:34).
The importance of schools creatively integrating AI as a tool, while investing in teacher support, parental engagement, and sustained, meaningful relationships (47:52).
The power and necessity of community engagement, family connection, and supporting those who serve the most vulnerable youth (34:45).
Key Questions Raised:
Can every child name at least one trusted adult in their life? (53:18)
What gaps are being revealed (not created) by the rise of AI as a confidant for young people? (52:01)
Takeaway:
AI is not inherently the problem or the solution. It signals where adult support, safety, and trust are missing for many young people. Embracing both new tools and the irreplaceable value of human relationships is essential for thriving schools and communities.What Schools Can Do This Term
Real Talk, Real Schools, Real SOLUTIONS
Yvonne’s reflection:
Looking back at 2025, it was the year so many young people started turning to AI for guidance and support.
Almost a third found themselves confiding in a machine, searching for judgment-free advice, instant answers, and safety they couldn't always find at home or in school. It made all of us re-examine what it means to be a trusted adult and how, in the rush toward new technology, we must never lose sight of the power of genuine connection.
As I pour this cup of tea alone in my kitchen, I'm reminded that sometimes, the biggest shift isn't about what's changed with tech, it's about what was missing in the first place."
One Big Change
If you want to truly help young people thrive, don’t let AI become the only voice they turn to.
Tech is a tool not a stand-in for human love, challenge, and support.🫱🏾🫲🏼
Yes, AI can provide instant answers (and maybe even comfort), but nothing will ever replace being seen and valued by a real person.👏🏾
Start building real relationships. That’s where the magic happens.✨
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Yvonne
LocaeRise
Change, handled well.
P.S. Carmen Gonzalez Barreda, to talk about The AI Problem No School Is Talking About, AI as a Therapist and what the dangers of this are.
Carmen Gonzalez Barreda is the CEO of the WONDER Foundation, a grassroots organisation dedicated to empowering women and girls globally through education, dignity, and opportunity. Her own journey has been shaped by resilience: from her childhood in Spain as the eldest of nine children to her early days cleaning houses in the UK while studying, it was a childhood lesson from her mother that changed her path.
"When I was about six or seven, I failed an exam and told my mother, 'It’s not fair.' She replied, 'There are so many girls more clever and hardworking than you, but they don’t have the chance to go to school.' That honestly changed me and sparked my lifelong desire to ensure that girls everywhere can access education and dignity."
Under her leadership, WONDER Foundation has grown into a global network supporting over 160,000 women and girls across four continents. Now, she is focusing her expertise on a new frontier: the hidden danger of AI as a therapist and why schools cannot afford to ignore it.