YouTuber Kai Cenat is going viral after he live-streamed himself trying to read a book.
He struggles to read basic words in the English language such as “spontaneity” or “dichotomy.” He couldn’t pronounce those words without the use of an online tool.
“Spontanay, spontana- how do I pronounce that?” he said, while reaching for his cell phone. “Often times when I don’t know what a word is pronounced, I wanna, I get to look at how it’s pronounced and what it even means,” he said.
A digital voice on his cell phone said “Spontaneity.”
Kai repeated, “Spontaneity: the condition of being spontaneous.” He then proceeded to mispronounce the word several times.
When the digital voice said “dichotomy,” Kai pronounced the word “di-comedy,” as if he’d never heard the word “dichotomy” ever in life.
The video sparked debate about the education and development of children in public schools in America.
Kai Cenat kept having to look up what certain words meant during his reading journey to become a better speaker ? pic.twitter.com/Pqr5im8u36
— yoxic (@yoxics) January 14, 2026
Kai is a 24-year-old grown man who can’t read. That revelation shocked the parents of his young followers who now realize their children probably can’t read either.
Reading simple texts on their phones or social media comments is not the same as sitting down to read a good book. Most kids online today have never read a book. They can’t even pronounce the title of a book.
Dr. Allison Wiltz, who uses the Twitter handle @queenie4rmnola, criticized followers for making fun of Kai.
“This is how you’re supposed to read, by looking up words you’re unfamiliar with. Why is he being made fun of for learning?”
Dr. Jeffrey J. Lusk wrote: “I look up words all the time, and I have a PhD! I even keep a written list of the new words I learn so I can go back and refresh them in my memory.”
Dr. Wiltz responded: “Learning is a life long [sic] process. I underline a word, and look it up if I don’t know it. The list is a smart idea.”
Author Ashley D. Turney wrote: “I don’t think he was being made fun of. All the comments I saw were supportive and applauding his efforts.”
User J. Wood commented: “Most 5th and 6th graders know these words. He doesn’t.”
Another SCRAP (@scrizzllee) noted that Kai launched a clothing line while not being able to read.
SCRAP wrote: “I think the real sentiment is being this far behind in literacy while also trying to attack an industry giant like fashion is kinda…”
It’s not that necessarily the AI literally saying the word for him and he’s literally getting it wrong , and I think the real sentiment is being this far behind in literacy while also trying to attack an industry giant like fashion is kinda pic.twitter.com/Yw3BadFsaR
— SCRAP (@SCRIZZLLEE) January 14, 2026
