The Hidden Dangers of AI for Your Children

Your child probably already talks to an artificial intelligence every day, and you may not even know it. From smart speakers to talking toys, AI has infiltrated their lives. Experts warn of the hidden risks.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a technology of the future; it's a constant presence in our daily lives. From translating news to taking notes in the doctor's office, its applications are countless. However, its integration into the lives of children and adolescents is generating growing concern among experts and parents. Although AI promises educational and entertainment benefits, it also poses serious risks to their development and safety.

A recent survey revealed an alarming fact: Although many teens use generative AI daily for homework or creating social media content, only 1 in 4 parents are aware their children are using it. This knowledge gap is the first obstacle to protecting them from hidden dangers.

Experts' Top Concerns

Preliminary research on the interaction between children and AI has pointed to several areas of risk that parents should seriously consider.

1. Confusion between Human and Machine

Studies have shown that children between the ages of 3 and 6 tend to believe that smart speakers like Alexa or Google Assistant have thoughts, feelings, and social skills very similar to those of a person. This anthropomorphization can affect the way children learn to interact with real humans, blurring the line between a genuine relationship and a programmed interaction.

2. Blind Trust in Technology

Another study found a troubling phenomenon: young children found smart speakers more trustworthy than humans when answering fact-based questions. This excessive trust in a machine's authority can impair their critical thinking skills and willingness to question the information they receive.

3. Exposure of Private Information

Children, by nature, are talkative and open. Research shows that they often share personal stories and private details with AI platforms, lacking an understanding of privacy. One notorious case was an interactive toy that recorded conversations between parents and children and had the ability to transmit that data to third parties, representing a serious erosion of family privacy.

Potential Harms: Beyond the Conversation

The risks of AI for minors go beyond simple interaction and can have direct and harmful consequences.

* Hate and Stereotype Dissemination: AI learns from data available on the internet, which means it reflects and amplifies the same prejudices, stereotypes, and hate speech present in society. Extensive studies have shown that AI-generated content can promote falsehoods and reinforce negative beliefs.

* Harassment and Fraud (Deepfakes): Generative AI can be used to create false or distorted images of children and adolescents. A devastating example is the creation of fake nudes (deepfakes), which have been used to target and shame many young people, constituting a form of sexual violence.

* Commercial Flood: AI tracks a child's browsing history to target them with relentless, personalized advertising campaigns, exposing them to a consumerism they are not ready for.

"A toy was found to record conversations between parents, children, and anyone else nearby, with the ability to transmit data from these conversations to third parties."

The Truth, Straight Talk: What Can Parents Do?

Given this situation, inaction is not an option. Experts recommend a proactive and educational approach to mitigate risks.

* Engage in Open Dialogue: It's essential to talk with children and teens about what AI is, how it works, and the dangers it entails. Explain that machines aren't people, that they shouldn't share personal information, and that not everything an AI says is true.

* Encourage Critical Thinking: Teach your children to question information, seek out multiple sources, and not blindly trust the answers of a voice assistant or chatbot.

* Set Limits and Supervise: Avoid interactive toys that promise to "talk" to children if it's unclear how they handle data. Monitor their use of generative AI tools and establish clear rules about their use.

* Be a Role Model: Model responsible digital behavior. If you yourself interact critically and consciously with technology, your children are more likely to adopt similar habits.

Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool with enormous potential, but like any tool, it can be misused. The key lies in education and supervision to ensure its impact on children's lives is positive, not harmful.