"AI tools can help students learn, help families solve problems and help all of us do more with less. Today's teens are the first generation growing up with AI from the start, and they hold the opportunity to maximize the economic benefits of the Intelligence Age. That brings enormous opportunity and a responsibility to avoid repeating the mistakes we made with social media so teens can develop real AI literacy and a healthy relationship with this technology."
"The basic idea is simple: AI knows a lot, but parents know best. The proposal would require AI systems that simulate conversation to use privacy-preserving age estimation so child-protective settings kick in for users under 18. It would empower parents by requiring easy-to-use parental controls and implement stronger protections for children under 13."
"It would include safeguards against manipulative designs like emotional dependency or simulated romantic relationships, and clear crisis-response protocols for self-harm risks. It also calls for independent child-safety audits with accountability."
Social media expanded rapidly without adequate protections for teenagers, creating lasting mental health consequences. AI is now following a similar trajectory, becoming essential to daily life without industry-wide safety standards for young users. California proposes the Parents & Kids Safe AI Act to establish protective measures including age estimation, parental controls, and enhanced safeguards for children under thirteen. The legislation prohibits manipulative design features and requires crisis-response protocols for self-harm risks. Independent child-safety audits ensure accountability. This framework aims to help teens develop healthy AI literacy while maximizing economic opportunities of the Intelligence Age, potentially setting a national regulatory standard if replicated across states.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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