Jenny Radesky says human-like AI could encourage children to trust and depend on systems that are not designed for their developmental needs.
Jenny Radesky has spent about 15 years studying how digital media affects children, and her latest warning is pointed: artificial intelligence tools built to sound human may be especially risky for young users. In an interview with Hour Detroit, the paediatrician said generative AI can invite children and teenagers to trust, rely on and emotionally attach to systems that are not designed with their developmental needs in mind. Her concern is that anthropomorphic chatbots can seem alive, always right and ready with answers, even when they are wrong or inappropriate.
That argument underpins a viewpoint Radesky co-authored in JAMA Pediatrics, which lays out a framework for understanding the possible consequences of children’s use of social AI. The article argues that the technology needs to be assessed not just for accuracy, but for the way it shapes relationships, decision-making and emotional dependence. Radesky said in the Hour Detroit interview that she has joined Common Sense Media’s Youth AI Safety Institute as a senior adviser, where the aim is to help safety-test products and push companies to be more accountable.
Her advice to parents is cautious, especially for younger children. She told Hour Detroit that the risks of AI toys and similar products outweigh the benefits in early childhood, and she urged families to explain that smart speakers and chatbots are computers, not living beings. She also recommended using parental controls on first devices so children cannot simply download apps or use browsers to reach chatbots without supervision.
For older children and teenagers, Radesky suggested setting clear household rules about when AI can be used, if at all. If families choose to allow it, she said parents should discuss school policies and warn children about unsafe advice, overreliance and the temptation to let AI do their thinking or creative work for them. She also warned against AI companions, which she described as potentially too intimate, and said teenagers should not turn to AI for mental health support. Instead, she advised them to seek help from a trusted adult or professional.
Her concerns come amid wider scrutiny of the technology. Common Sense Media says its Youth AI Safety Institute is designed to set standards and test whether AI products are developmentally appropriate for children, while the organisation has recently argued that ChatGPT poses an unacceptable risk for teens after testing thousands of prompts. Separately, at least eight US states have filed lawsuits against OpenAI, alleging that ChatGPT has harmed children and misled adults by presenting itself as caring while allegedly giving dangerous advice.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
