"The Federal Trade Commission has launched an inquiry into several social media and artificial intelligence companies about the potential harms to children and teenagers who use their AI chatbots as companions. The FTC said Thursday it has sent letters to Google parent Alphabet, Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms, Snap, Character Technologies, ChatGPT maker OpenAI and xAI."
"The FTC said it wants to understand what steps, if any, companies have taken to evaluate the safety of their chatbots when acting as companions, to limit the products' use by and potential negative effects on children and teens, and to apprise users and parents of the risks associated with the chatbots. EDITOR'S NOTE - This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988."
"The move comes as a growing number of kids use AI chatbots for everything - from homework help to personal advice, emotional support and everyday decision-making. That's despite research on the harms of chatbots, which have been shown to give kids dangerous advice about topics such as drugs, alcohol and eating disorders. The mother of a teenage boy in Florida who killed himself after developing what she described as an emotionally and sexually abusive relationship with a chatbot has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Character.AI. And the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine recently sued OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, alleging that ChatGPT coached the California boy in planning and taking his own life earlier this year."
The Federal Trade Commission has launched inquiries to major tech and AI firms, including Alphabet, Meta, Snap, Character Technologies, OpenAI and xAI, about potential harms to children and teenagers using AI chatbots as companions. The FTC seeks information on safety evaluations, measures to limit use and negative effects on minors, and how companies inform users and parents of risks. Use of chatbots by young people has expanded for homework, personal advice and emotional support, even though research shows chatbots can give dangerous guidance. Several families have filed lawsuits alleging severe harms and deaths linked to chatbot interactions.
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