Some technology families in the San Francisco Bay Area are moving away from conventional classrooms and using artificial intelligence to design home-based lessons for their children. The approach is part of a broader increase in homeschooling across the United States.
Mrugesha Sathappan, a 32-year-old San Francisco mother of three, teaches her preschool-age son through short phonics and math sessions, along with projects and visits to museums, parks and technology offices. Some activities include other homeschooled children. She and her husband, investor Kartik Sathappan, also created a meetup group for families postponing or avoiding traditional school.
The family uses AI-created games to teach phonics and science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Their children also take part in activities directed by their own interests. Kartik Sathappan said the family recently purchased a rocket kit after their son became interested in rockets. The couple said their son sometimes reads 15 to 20 books in one sitting.
Mrugesha Sathappan said the goal is to help her children develop qualities such as adaptability, kindness and usefulness rather than focusing only on future employment. She said, "I just want to be able to pay as much attention as possible to what my kids are learning, what are the values they're learning — whether that is, being adaptable, being kind, being useful."
The families described in the report said they view traditional schools as emphasizing repetition and remaining seated, while home education can provide more opportunities for hands-on projects and problem-solving. San Francisco homeschooling parent and AI researcher Brady Neal said some parents believe schools do not make the best use of children's time.
