OpenAI and NORAD add AI to NORAD Tracks Santa | Keryc
Every December millions of families keep the tradition of watching NORAD track Santa around the world. This year OpenAI joins NORAD to add three tools inside ChatGPT that aim to make the season more fun and easier to share at home.
New festive tools in ChatGPT
OpenAI and NORAD added three small utilities designed for parents and holiday lovers. They’re simple, intuitive, and included in NORAD’s activities at www.NORADSanta.org.
🎄 Elf Enrollment
Turns a photo into an “official Santa helper.” It’s a playful tool to create keepsakes and personalized gifts.
Practical idea: print a version for the tree or stick the photo on a card with the elf’s name.
🧸 Santa’s Toy Lab
You say an imaginary toy idea and the tool turns it into a line-art coloring page ready to color.
Practical idea: make several quick designs for an afternoon of crafts or to tuck into stockings.
📖 Christmas Story Creator
A fill-in-the-blanks story maker where the family adds names, places, and details to generate a unique tale.
Practical idea: have each member add a line or detail, then read it aloud on an Advent evening.
How to use them at home
Want something quick to keep the kids entertained while you finish dinner? These tools were made for that: short interactions, printable results, and easy-to-share outputs.
For Elf Enrollment photos: choose clear, well-lit images so the transformation looks sharper.
For Santa’s Toy Lab: describe colors, shapes, and distinctive traits (for example, a robot with a top hat and wheel instead of feet) to get more fun coloring pages.
For the Christmas Story Creator: ask each child to contribute a character or place and make the story a new family tradition.
Best practices and privacy
Technology can help create memorable moments, but it’s smart to check how photos and data are handled. Before uploading images or saving files, review the privacy and storage guidance at www.NORADSanta.org.
Supervise use with minors, download what you want to keep onto your devices, and avoid sharing sensitive information in public forms.
These tools don’t change the NORAD Tracks Santa tradition; they amplify it with small digital touches that make it easier to create home memories. Isn’t it nice when technology makes what we look forward to each year—sharing wonder with family—easier?
