We right here at ToughPigs have loads of ideas about each creativity and accuracy, so it comes as no shock that we even have loads of ideas about massive language fashions, aka generative synthetic intelligence. I imply, it’s 2025, so it seems like everyone seems to be required to have loads of ideas about generative synthetic intelligence, with $3 trillion slated to be invested within the expertise by 2028.
Personally, I believe generative synthetic intelligence (which I’ll merely be calling AI on this article, because it’s shorter and most of the people name it that) is a really reprehensible piece of expertise in its present kind. Regardless of what its title implies, AI doesn’t have intelligence. It will probably’t cause, it might probably’t assume, it might probably’t be artistic. It will probably solely use patterns in language to regurgitate previous concepts shuffled in usually-illogical methods. In keeping with an article from Forbes from earlier this 12 months, AI won’t ever have the ability to cease producing incorrect info as a result of it can’t really logically course of phrases and concepts. Even one of the best programs are flawed a big portion of the time, as a result of they can’t perceive what being proper is. And naturally, as cited in an article from October 14, 2025 on NPR, one information middle makes use of as a lot electrical energy as 100,000 households in addition to billions of gallons of water.
However anyway. It is a Muppet web site, so I promise I’m not simply bringing this as much as vent about expertise. On October 14, 2025, Sesame Avenue did one of the crucial off-putting issues I can bear in mind them doing in 56 years: they launched a video known as “AI and Us” which actually, actively discourages studying in favor of interesting to their sponsor, Google.
Perhaps it’s hyperbole, possibly it’s not. That’s so that you can determine. However let’s speak in regards to the information. This four-minute video stars Julia and her household (father Daniel, mom Elena, and brother Samuel) as they put together to make a fast dinner earlier than taking Samuel to his soccer sport. It appears Daniel (who right here appears fairly ill-equipped to be the daddy of two kids) has forgotten that kids must eat meals. He can’t consider what to make for dinner within the restricted time he has, and he solely has 4 sorts of meals within the fridge: inexperienced beans, rice, lemons, and plain yogurt. Julia means that the household use a cookbook to search for recipes they will make, however Samuel can’t appear to search out an acceptable recipe by merely leafing by way of random pages. Lastly, Daniel realizes that he can use his new AI instrument, right here known as “Reiko,” to discover a recipe. After suggesting one recipe that received’t work, Reiko suggests the household make “lemony rice with inexperienced beans and yogurt sauce.” The household does so, and it’s scrumptious. Thanks Reiko!
At first, this doesn’t appear heinous. Julia’s household makes a wholesome dinner! Wholesome meals! Working collectively! Isn’t that what Sesame is all about?
Positive, I suppose. However look deeper and also you begin to see the issue. Or reasonably, the issue you see is that there’s no downside right here that Reiko is fixing.
Daniel has 4 elements. There are solely so some ways one can mix these elements. He’s going to need to put the beans within the rice and season it with lemons. The one variable is whether or not he is aware of how you can make yogurt sauce.
However okay, possibly he doesn’t know that. The AI offers an answer right here, however once more, there isn’t actually an issue, and definitely not one which requires AI to unravel. As a result of (and I checked to substantiate this!) Daniel may’ve simply used an Web search engine to search out this recipe in much less time than it took his AI helper to take action. We all know Julia’s household has Web-connected units: we’ve seen Julia use a pill earlier than, and in a clip from this month, Daniel reveals that he has a smartphone. Like I stated, I attempted this. I went to DuckDuckGo search and typed in “inexperienced beans yogurt lemon rice.” The first consequence that seems is a recipe for charred inexperienced beans and lemony yogurt from the New York Occasions Cooking, a really well-regarded supply for recipes. It appears to be like good!
So once more, Julia’s household may’ve solved their downside with out the AI if Daniel taught his children to make use of a search engine (with grownup supervision, after all). It didn’t assist them do one thing they couldn’t already do.
And hey, only for the document, when Samuel is utilizing the cookbook, he’s simply flipping pages randomly, not actively looking out utilizing an index. Utilizing an index is one other necessary ability children can be taught! It’s enjoyable! It’s like utilizing the alphabet! I child you not, I pulled a random cookbook off of my partner’s shelf, and positive sufficient, below Y was an entire part for yogurt. The primary alternative? “Yogurt, lemony.” Web page 276. Once more, not an issue. Thanks, That Sounds So Good by Carla Lalli Music!
So what does this AI do? Effectively, it encourages Daniel not to show his children helpful expertise; as a substitute, he teaches them the pretty nonsensical ability of “immediate engineering.” Folks make a giant deal out of the ability of refining prompts, however once more, when consultants consider that AI won’t ever have the ability to actually “comprehend” prompts (as a result of it can’t assume), it’s a ability that doesn’t assure any measurable success. It’s mainly a ability that shifts the blame of AI’s imperfections from the flawed system to the consumer.
I known as AI an answer looking for an issue, but it surely’s additionally an answer that causes extra issues.
So right here’s a type of issues: AI shouldn’t be good at making recipes, though tech corporations say it’s. As a result of AI doesn’t assume or perceive not to mention style, such instruments have steered recipes starting from the weird, like “yogurt dumpling guacamole,” to the lethal, like “poison bread sandwiches.”
Is that this one thing Daniel needs to go away his younger kids alone with? Does he wish to train his naive kids how you can use a instrument that has actually inspired kids to commit suicide?
That is the place Sesame leaves us. Why?
Effectively, the top of the trailer solutions that query. This video is sponsored by Google, an organization that makes AI units like this so-called “Reiko.”
It’s an commercial, people. Not directly so, after all. The video description notes that Reiko shouldn’t be an actual product, serving to Sesame be certain that they aren’t crossing any traces about promoting merchandise in movies focused at kids. However it’s a video for kids, and it’s Google advertising and marketing their product.
For those who take even a second to consider this, you’ll see how uncomfortable it’s.
It’s value noting that, whether or not we prefer it or not, AI is one thing children will encounter of their day-to-day lives. Like I stated, corporations are spending trillions of {dollars} on it. It’ll present up in issues children use, which suggests it is value instructing children about navigating its strengths and weaknesses. This video doesn’t do this, nevertheless. For example, Daniel doesn’t train his children to fact-check the AI’s recipes. Positive, they alter the immediate as soon as, however they don’t verify something in regards to the second recipe, so Daniel is instructing the youngsters to belief this company machine that listens to them on a regular basis.
You already know, I wish to quote my good pal and ToughPigs colleague Matthew Soberman, who I believe sums this up superbly. On the ToughPigs Discord, he wrote:
“So I kinda touched on this after they had the AI-powered Cameo movies. I get that in these instances, particularly when federal grant cash is all-but-gone, Sesame Workshop wants to hunt methods of funding, however they need to do it in accountable methods. I’ve no downside with them partnering with Google for a video, but it surely didn’t must plug their AI program. They may’ve taught children how you can use a search engine, which might’ve been a helpful ability, however they didn’t. That is merely promoting for a product that doesn’t train anybody how you can be smarter, stronger, or kinder.”
And I believe we are able to all agree it’s value determining an answer to that downside.
Click on right here to share your favourite yogurt sauce recipes on the ToughPigs Discord!
by Becca Petunia
