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There's a growing field in the tech industry that focuses solely on Artificial Intelligence and how it interacts with humans. Entire rooms are dedicated to the servers running the AI in the background of any program you open, any website you go to, and any question you might type into your search bar. There are a lot of ways AI can help us:
Answering questions you might have
Retyping a job application to sound more professional
Helping you troubleshoot a problem at work
Creating a poster for your upcoming yard sale
Giving you resources for health issues you might worry about
But AI chatbots can become dangerous if used incorrectly. Lets look at a few of them before we dive into how they are harmful for our children and young adults.
ChatGPT (Open AI)
ChatGPT is the AI generated chatbot created with Natural Language Programming (NLP) to interact with the user as if a friend was sitting down across from them. ChatGPT can answer in ways a human would answer while also having access to thousands upon millions of resources on the internet. You can type a question in any format into the search bar and ChatGPT will understand it, research its answer, and come back with an explanation for you in a language or phrase or set up that replicates human interaction. What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is also an open source programming. This means that anyone can go into the programming inside the AI, copy it, and use it for anything they want. This helps programmers learn about the program, tweak it for their needs, and use it without consequences. Open source programming is a great way for young adults to learn how websites work and what they can do to create their own useful technology.
Gemini (Google's AI bot)
Gemini is also open source but was created by Google. This chatbot has similar features to ChatGPT in that it is created with the human person in mind. The conversation base is similar to that of a natural conversation with another person and it can interact with you as you would with a friend. Gemini is readily available on any Android device as a chat or message just like your text conversations with friends. You can also download the app from the Google Play store to have an AI bot right there on your phone separate from your messages. What is Gemini?
IBM Watson
Even if you're not up to date on the latest technology, chances are you've heard of IBM Watson. Watson is probably one of the oldest AI bots out there. He was originally created to win Jeopardy but then was programmed to help with lung cancer doctors to treat patients. After that, Watson's use became endless. What is IBM's Watson?
While Watson may have started out harmless and for fun, it has grown into an ever changing field where now Watson has become watsonx and it can be used in business settings or at home.
These are just the three most popular and well-known bots available, but see the image below to really understand how easy it is for our children to get into any one of these AI chatbots! They are everywhere!
So if these things are everywhere, how can they be bad? Everyone uses them in some way, how can I be expected to protect my family from their dangers?
Well, lets start with the basics: conversation. Tell your child that while it seems real, its not. This is a computer meant to interact with you, like a video game, and make you feel better about your questions or choices. This is not a person on the other end no matter how much it feels like it. Remind them of when they play any type of game: they know it isn't real, they know they're just pretending, and they know it eventually ends. That is the same way with AI chatbots! Remind them over and over again that you love them and you're trying to help them grow into healthy adults, which is why you need to have this conversation.
Reading the article above can really put into perspective how dangerous these things can be for your pre-teen or teen. It may start out innocently but then your child's healthy curiosity gets going and soon they find themselves asking all kinds of adult rated questions because they either a) can't stop themselves or b) don't think you will approve of their search and are trying to stay out of trouble.
This is another reason you need to have open conversations with your child about why you are safe and how you can help no matter what they feel, see, or do online!
Remember, your child's brain is not fully developed until they are 25! They are acting instead of reacting. They are jumping before they see where they will land. This is completely normal and healthy behavior, but when combined with an AI chatbot that has millions of more resources than your child, they don't stand a chance.
Unfortunately, kids will still get into things they aren't supposed to get into. And unfortunately, we may not catch them in time. A pro-active approach is to talk to your child often about using chatbots and what to expect. Remind them that its just a computer, not a real person. Those feelings they feel? Those are real, but there's no one behind the chat except a computer doing a job.
But what do you do if your child has already been involved in a chatbot conversation? What do you do if your child has been caught up in the emotional turmoil and finds him or herself stuck?
Breathe. Breathe again. Breathe one more time. And go to them. Take the device. Be calm. Tell them you love them. Remind them that they can tell you whatever it is that is bothering them. Be with them. The best thing you can do right now is remove the distraction and be with your child, physically and emotionally.
You can't keep the chatbots out of your child's life, but you can help your child protect themselves when they are using them. Remember, we are raising empowered kids!
Links
AI Chatbots, Hallucinations, and Legal Risks
Three Ways Chatbots are a Security Disaster
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