Should your kids have AI friends?

Lately AI friend/companion use by kids has been in the headlines for tragic reasons. Similarly, there are stories about adults who start to believe things that aren’t true after talking with generative AI.

Given the evidence, it seems you might never want to allow your kids to use generative AI and never allow any kind of AI friendship.

However, kids are already using generative AI for a range of things, including homework and advice. Common Sense Media found 52% of US teens were already using generative AI apps like ChatGPT as a companion a few times a month and 1/3 have discussed something serious like help with a friend. A similar percentage describe AI chats as about as satisfying as talking with a human. UK teen usage is slightly lower, but significant. Dedicated companion apps like Character.ai and Replika are growing with 10s of millions of users.

Still, the clear answer for most of us when faced with all of this is “no, don’t let your kids have AI friends.”

But it’s clearly going to get really tricky. Studies highlight that kids are turning to AI companions when they’re lonely or for hard to discuss topics. And, it’s incredibly alluring to have a friend that listens.

Complicating it further: more and more adults I know are using generative AI for connection, coaching, and support - and an analysis published in the Harvard Business Review found the same thing. A large number of us also AI for work and to help refine ideas.

And, at one point the idea of a social media account for every person seemed farfetched, now it’s almost an expected part of life.

So, it seems unlikely generative AI and its language generation qualities will go away. This might be the kind of thing we all need more literacy about.

What’s a parent to do? I turned to Al Nowatzki, a generative AI QA lead and a person I’d describe as pro-technology but still skeptical. He’s also a friend of past guest Dr. Susan Walker. And, Al recorded 260+ episodes (!!!) of a Star Wars podcast with his kids, which we also talk about.

His advice on AI friends and companions:

• Know how generative AI works (Common Sense Media guide)

• Talk with other parents, especially those with older kids, to understand whats coming

• Talk with your kids and make sure they understand how the technology works and the difference between it and other people

• Instill a kind of skepticism and AI literacy where kids ask why something might be happening or what motivations are at play

We also walk through real, current AI questions coming up in my conversations with my daughter and get into how high different animals can jump and whether those videos are even real.

You can find the interview on YouTube or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Hope the episode is helpful. As always, let me know what you think.