BakersfieldNow asks parents if they’re OK with AI ‘friend’ for kids
KBAK/KBFX posted a one-question poll asking if parents are comfortable with their child using AI as a friend, as local districts roll out AI guidance.
BakersfieldNow asks parents if they’re OK with AI ‘friend’ for kids
Key Takeaways
- BakersfieldNow on Sept. 14 posted a poll asking if parents are comfortable with their child using AI as a friend.
- The online question is informal and collects voluntary votes, with no posted methodology.
- Bakersfield City School District lists an AI Guidebook and board policy on its website.
- Kern High School District offers teacher, parent, and student AI guides through its Innovative Programs office.
- The California Department of Education has statewide AI guidance and a model policy districts can adapt.
What the question asks
BakersfieldNow is asking a simple one: "Would you be comfortable with your child using AI as a friend?" The station posted the prompt at 4:10 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, and it’s open for readers to click and vote. No methodology posted.
The ask lands in a real place for Kern County families, who are deciding how much room to give chatbots at home while schools write rules for the classroom. It is a web poll, not scientific, but the subject is concrete and current for parents across Bakersfield.
What local districts say
Two Bakersfield districts have public-facing guidance that parents can actually read. Bakersfield City School District lists a "BCSD Artificial Intelligence Guidebook" and an AI board policy on its site, along with a Spanish guide. The page is easy to find under Curriculum and Instruction.
Kern High School District’s Innovative Programs office maintains an "AI Guide" with separate sections for teachers, parents, and students, including notes on district‑approved tools and academic honesty. The page credits Director of Innovative Programs Bryan Campoy as a reviewer. The resources don’t tell families how to vote on the idea of AI friendship, they set guardrails for appropriate classroom use and point to who to call with questions.
State guidance in place
At the state level, the California Department of Education released K‑12 guidance on the safe and effective use of AI in January 2026, then followed with a model policy districts can adapt. The model is meant to cover privacy, academic integrity, teacher training, and when AI use is age appropriate. Local boards decide what to adopt and when, which is why resources look a little different in each district.
If you’re a Kern High or BCSD parent trying to sort out the home piece, the district pages at least give you the vocabulary to ask better questions at back‑to‑school night. That is the point here.
Why this matters today
The BakersfieldNow prompt is about "AI friends," which is a different question than whether a student can use a chatbot to draft an outline for English. Families are seeing AI companion apps sold directly to teens, while schools are focused on homework, plagiarism, and data privacy. Those lines blur at home.
The poll sits under a file photo from a sister station, and a simple vote box.
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