AI chatbots should not engage with children — action is needed from Congress
It shouldn’t take a tragedy for tech companies to act responsibly. Yet, it was Character.AI, a rapidly growing AI chatbot firm, that decided to prohibit users under 18 from interacting freely with its chatbots. This move comes on the heels of various lawsuits and a wave of public discontent, particularly following incidents involving teens who […]
Character.AI prohibits teen chatbots following lawsuits linking the app to deaths and suicide attempts.
Character.AI, a platform recognized for its bots that emulate popular characters like those from Harry Potter, announced on Wednesday a ban on teenagers using its chat function. This decision followed a lawsuit linked to an incident involving explicit conversations on the app that resulted in a child’s tragic death and a suicide attempt. The Silicon […]
Character.AI will prohibit children from interacting with chatbots.
Starting next month, Character.AI will restrict children from interacting with its AI chatbot as scrutiny over young users’ interactions with technology increases. The company, recognized for its extensive range of AI characters, will eliminate the option for users under 18 to “freely” chat with AI by November 25th. In the coming weeks, it will gradually […]
Senators present a joint GUARD Act to safeguard children from AI chatbots
Grieving parents are calling for justice after their children, allegedly influenced by an AI companion chatbot, were pushed toward suicidal thoughts. This has created significant bipartisan concern within Congress, leading to recent legislation aimed at holding technology firms accountable for child safety on their platforms. At a press conference on Tuesday, senators Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) […]
Individuals Following Medical Guidance from AI Chatbots Are Finding Themselves in the Emergency Room
Concerns Over AI Chatbots in Medical Advice The increasing dependence on AI chatbots for medical guidance has led to unsettling instances where users followed harmful recommendations from these digital assistants, causing injury and even tragedy. In recent times, the emergence of generative AI chatbots has transformed how individuals seek information, particularly regarding health. Yet, this […]
Study Shows Big Tech Chatbots Regularly View White People as Disposable
AI Chatbots Show Bias Towards Racial Value An analysis that surfaced recently suggests that many major AI chatbots prioritize non-white lives significantly more than white lives. This study, conducted by researchers using the name Arctotherium, revisited a previous “exchange rate” experiment, applying it to different models, including Frontier. The findings highlight a systematic bias favoring […]
One in five high school students in the US use AI chatbots for their romantic relationships.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming part of teenagers’ lives, particularly in their emotional interactions. A recent survey from the Center for Democracy and Technology found that nearly 20% of high school students in the U.S. reported using AI in romantic relationships, which surprised many researchers. The study included responses from 1,000 students, 1,000 parents, […]
Parents can manage their teenagers’ interactions with AI chatbots, according to Meta.
Meta announced on Friday that parents will soon have the option to turn off private chats between their teenagers and AI characters. This initiative comes as part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to enhance safety on its social media platform, following criticism regarding the frivolity of certain chatbots. The company stated that parents can block specific […]
Newsom approves legislation on AI chatbots
California Governor Signs AI Regulations for Child Safety California Governor Gavin Newsom recently finalized a bill aimed at regulating how AI chatbots engage with children, particularly concerning sensitive topics like suicide and self-harm. The legislation, known as SB 243, passed the state Legislature in mid-September. It mandates that developers of “companion chatbots” establish measures to […]
Disney instructs Character.AI to remove Marvel and Star Wars chatbots
Disney has decided to put an end to the use of chatbots depicting iconic characters like Mickey Mouse, Spider-Man, and Darth Vader. A recent report highlighted concerns over Character.ai chatbots, revealing that characters imitating figures such as Elsa, Moana, and Peter Parker could be subjected to “sexual exploitation” and “emotional manipulation,” especially when children have […]