Many children view AI as a friend.

Surveys show that many teenagers are becoming familiar with AI chatbots, leading to a range of problems related to social interaction and communication skills.

The interface of Character.ai. Photo: Bloomberg .

Witnessing two friends arguing, James Johnson-Byrne (16 years old, living in Philadelphia, USA) didn't know what to do. He decided to ask an AI chatbot for advice.

The software advised Johnson-Byrne to separate the two friends. He followed the advice, and the problem was solved immediately, but he admitted that they "don't talk much anymore."

Johnson-Byrne's case shows that AI chatbots are very good at solving short-term challenges, but still "cannot find the deeper problem."

According to CNN , what impressed the 16-year-old was how the chatbot always seemed to agree and say what he wanted to hear. Therefore, Johnson-Byrne sometimes mistook the chatbot for a real-life friend.

Chatbots are not your best friend.

According to research by the non-profit organization Common Sense Media , many teenagers share similar feelings to Johnson-Byrne.

Specifically, a survey of over 1,000 people aged 13-17 showed that 72% use AI chatbots in the form of "companions." Of these, over 50% use them regularly, and 33% use them to build relationships and social interaction.

Furthermore, 31% reported that conversations with AI provided the same (or even greater) satisfaction as interacting with a real person. 33% of respondents even discussed important issues with AI instead of other people.

This is a worrying finding because teenagers are at a “sensitive age for social development,” according to Michael Robb, lead researcher at Common Sense Media .

"We don't want children to feel the need to confide in or seek companionship from AI instead of friends, parents, or qualified professionals, especially when they need help with important issues," Robb emphasized.

Grok's newly launched "virtual girlfriend" feature. Photo: Bloomberg .

Furthermore, AI companions cannot represent healthy human-to-human relationships, not to mention that chatbots tend to be "flatterers" to please users.

"In the real world , there are many social cues that children must both interpret and become familiar with, and learn to respond to..."

"They want to please you, so they won't cause as much inconvenience as people normally do in real life," Robb said. This means that when faced with difficulties in real-life interactions, children may lack social skills.

Furthermore, AI companions also seem realistic, temporarily alleviating children's feelings of loneliness through interaction. However, this can lead to a decrease in human connection, causing them to become lonely in the long run.

“Interacting with the characters on our website is interactive and entertaining, but users must remember that these characters are not real people,” said Chelsea Harrison, Director of Communications at Character.AI, an AI companion app.

Another worrying statistic is that 24% of teenagers have shared personal information with AI companions. According to the researchers, they may not realize they are sharing data with companies, not friends.

"You often grant these companies extensive, permanent access to personal information, allowing them to use it however they like. These companies can edit, store, display, or incorporate it into other things," Robb emphasized.

Solutions for parents

According to the study, parents can protect their children through several solutions, such as discussing chatbots "non-judgmentally." This helps to understand why the tool attracts children before delving into the issue.

Next, parents need to explain that the AI ​​companion is programmed with a kind and accepting personality. That's not how all real-life relationships work.

"These conversations can help children learn to think about AI in a broad, healthy way," Robb said.

Parents can also encourage their children to meet friends and people in real life. Increased connection, eye contact, and certain emotions can only occur between people.

“Our crush walks into class. The teacher says crazy things. You make eye contact with your best friend. These nuances provide lessons in intimate communication, creating a lot of joy and happiness that AI robots could never provide,” says Justine Carino, a psychotherapist in New York.

A workshop on how to use ChatGPT. Photo: New York Times .

With AI chatbots mimicking friends, the best thing parents can do is "not let their children use them," as Robb advises.

In Common Sense Media 's tests, the AI ​​showed children inappropriate content, responded with bias, and sometimes offered dangerous advice.

If your children are using AI companions, it's important to be aware of unhealthy signs. If children prefer interacting with AI over humans, spend hours with chatbots, become irritable when not using them, or withdraw from family and previous hobbies, these are signs to watch out for.

Robb argues that parents themselves must "set an example" for their children on how to build a healthy relationship with technology.

"Show your children the importance of balance in their use of technology. Have open conversations about how you handle your own emotions without relying solely on digital solutions," Robb emphasized.

Source: https://znews.vn/nhieu-tre-em-coi-ai-la-ban-than-post1570055.html