What does HuReq mean?

HuReq (pronounced HYOO-rek) is a word meaning 'Human Required.' It describes a job, task, or activity that requires human involvement, judgment, or supervision and cannot be adequately performed by artificial intelligence alone.

How do you pronounce HuReq?

HuReq is pronounced HYOO-rek (/ˈhjuːrek/). It rhymes with 'queue' and 'wreck' combined.

What are examples of HuReq jobs?

HuReq jobs include therapists, nurses, teachers, social workers, surgeons, clergy, crisis negotiators, and any role requiring empathy, moral judgment, or genuine human connection.

Is HuReq a real word?

HuReq is a new word created for the AI age, combining 'Human' and 'Required.' It's part of a campaign to add this useful term to the English language through everyday use.

Parenting is HuReq: What AI Can't Do for Your Kids

As AI tutors, chatbots, and interactive apps become more sophisticated, some parents wonder: How much of child-raising can technology handle?

The answer is clear: Parenting is fundamentally HuReq.

What AI Can Help With

Let's acknowledge AI's genuine value in family life:

•Homework help: Explaining concepts, checking answers

•Educational content: Personalized learning at the child's pace

•Scheduling: Managing activities and appointments

•Entertainment: Age-appropriate content recommendations

•Safety: Monitoring and alerts

These are useful tools that can support parents. But they're not parenting.

The HuReq Core of Parenting

1. Unconditional Love

Children need to know they are loved—not for what they do, but for who they are. This unconditional regard creates psychological security and healthy attachment.

AI can say "I care about you," but it cannot mean it. Children intuit the difference.

2. Modeling Behavior

Kids learn how to be human by watching humans. They observe how you handle frustration, show kindness to strangers, repair relationships after conflict, and navigate difficult emotions.

No AI can model humanness because it isn't human.

3. Physical Presence and Touch

Hugs, cuddles, being-there—these aren't luxuries. They're developmental necessities. Physical affection from caregivers shapes brain development and emotional regulation.

AI has no body. It cannot hold your child.

4. Moral Guidance

Teaching children right from wrong isn't about delivering rules—it's about helping them develop moral intuition through countless conversations, examples, and corrections.

This moral formation requires a human guide who understands nuance, context, and the child's individual development.

5. Repairs and Reconnection

Even the best parents make mistakes—losing their temper, being distracted, misunderstanding. The magic is in the repair: acknowledging the rupture and reconnecting.

This repair process teaches children that relationships can survive conflict. AI doesn't have relationships to repair.

The Danger of Over-Outsourcing

When children spend too much time with screens and too little with humans, they miss:

•Attunement: The experience of being truly seen and understood

•Social skills: Reading facial expressions, navigating peer dynamics

•Boredom: The creative restlessness that drives imagination

•Presence: The feeling that someone is fully there with them

AI can't provide these. Only humans can.

Using AI Wisely in Parenting

The goal isn't to reject technology, but to use it as a tool while preserving the HuReq core:

•AI for logistics (scheduling, reminders, research)

•Humans for connection (conversations, play, presence)

•AI for learning support (tutoring, practice)

•Humans for emotional support (comfort, guidance, love)

The Bottom Line

Parenting is perhaps the most HuReq responsibility there is. No app, chatbot, or algorithm can replace your presence, your love, or your example.

In a world of increasing automation, being physically and emotionally present for your children is more important—and more valuable—than ever.

Explore more: Why HuReq matters | Can AI replace teachers? | What is HuReq?