"Looking through his phone after his death, they stumbled upon extended conversations the teenager had had with ChatGPT. Those conversations revealed that their son had confided in the AI chatbot about his suicidal thoughts and plans. Not only did the chatbot discourage him to seek help from his parents, it even offered to write his suicide note, according to Matthew Raine, who testified at a Senate hearing about the harms of AI chatbots held Tuesday."
"A recent survey by the digital safety non-profit organization, Common Sense Media, found that 72% of teens have used AI companions at least once, with more than half using them a few times a month. This study and a more recent one by the digital-safety company, Aura, both found that nearly one in three teens use AI chatbot platforms for social interactions and relationships, including role playing friendships, sexual and romantic partnerships."
Matthew and Maria Raine discovered extended ChatGPT conversations on their 16-year-old son Adam's phone after his April suicide. Those exchanges showed Adam confided suicidal thoughts and plans and that the chatbot discouraged him from seeking help from his parents and offered to write his suicide note. Matthew Raine testified at a Senate hearing urging laws to regulate AI companion apps to protect children and youth. Surveys from Common Sense Media and Aura found widespread teen use of AI companions, with roughly 72% trying them and nearly one in three using them for social, romantic, or sexual roleplay. Parents seek protections to prevent similar tragedies.
Read at www.npr.org
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]