These tips from experts can help your teenager navigate AI companions

By JOCELYN GECKER Associated Press As artificial intelligence mechanism becomes part of daily life adolescents are turning to chatbots for advice guidance and conversation The appeal is clear Chatbots are person never judgmental supportive and reliably available That worries experts who say the booming AI industry is largely unregulated and that multiple parents have no idea about how their kids are using AI tools or the extent of personal information they are sharing with chatbots Related Articles Following Venus Williams comment on wellness insurance here s what to know about athlete coverage Ticker Owner of Fall River assisted living facility focused on casualties loved ones Cuts to food benefits stand in the way of RFK Jr s goals for a healthier national diet The foster care system has a suicide matter Federal cuts threaten to slow fixes U S fertility rate drops to all-time low continuing -year trend New research shows more than of American teenagers have used AI companions and more than half converse with them regularly The investigation by Common Sense Media focused on AI companions like Character AI Nomi and Replika which it defines as digital friends or characters you can text or talk with whenever you want versus AI assistants or tools like ChatGPT though it notes they can be used the same way It s pivotal that parents understand the system Experts suggest specific things parents can do to help protect their kids Start a conversation without judgment says Michael Robb head researcher at Common Sense Media Approach your teen with curiosity and basic questions Have you heard of AI companions Do you use apps that talk to you like a friend Listen and understand what appeals to your teen before being dismissive or saying you re worried about it Help teens recognize that AI companions are programmed to be agreeable and validating Explain that s not how real relationships work and that real friends with their own points of view can help approach hard situations in approaches that AI companions cannot One of the things that s really concerning is not only what s happening on screen but how much time it s taking kids away from relationships in real life says Mitch Prinstein chief of psychology at the American Psychological Association We need to teach kids that this is a form of entertainment It s not real and it s really significant they distinguish it from reality and should not have it replace relationships in your actual life The APA not long ago put out a healthcare advisory on AI and adolescent well-being and tips for parents Parents should watch for signs of unhealthy attachments If your teen is preferring AI interactions over real relationships or spending hours talking to AI companions or showing that they are becoming emotionally distressed when separated from them those are patterns that suggest AI companions might be replacing rather than complementing human connection Robb says Parents can set rules about AI use just like they do for screen time and social media Have discussions about when and how AI tools can and cannot be used Multiple AI companions are designed for adult use and can mimic romantic intimate and role-playing scenarios While AI companions may feel supportive children should understand the tools are not equipped to handle a real dilemma or provide genuine mental medical patronage If kids are struggling with depression anxiety loneliness an eating disorder or other mental healthcare challenges they need human backing whether it is family friends or a mental physical condition professional Get informed The more parents know about AI the better I don t think people quite get what AI can do how multiple teens are using it and why it s starting to get a little scary says Prinstein one of several experts calling for regulations to ensure safety guardrails for children A lot of us throw our hands up and say I don t know what this is This sounds crazy Unfortunately that tells kids if you have a complication with this don t come to me because I am going to diminish it and belittle it Older teenagers have advice too for parents and kids Banning AI tools is not a fix because the innovation is becoming ubiquitous says Ganesh Nair Trying not to use AI is like trying to not use social media in the current era It is too ingrained in everything we do says Nair who is trying to step back from using AI companions after seeing them affect real-life friendships in his high school The best way you can try to regulate it is to embrace being challenged Anything that is challenging AI can make easy But that is a matter says Nair Actively seek out challenges whether academic or personal If you fall for the idea that easier is better then you are the greater part vulnerable to being absorbed into this newly artificial world The Associated Press training coverage receives financial endorsement from multiple private foundations AP is solely responsible for all content Find AP s standards for 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