At the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, experts discussed the psychological risks of AI technology for youth. Paul LeBlanc, an education adviser, argued that AI could pose greater threats than social media, particularly concerning mental health and empathy development. Panelists, including Georgetown University’s Matthew Biel, highlighted the importance of parent-child attunement in child development, warning that AI lacks the necessary friction in social interactions. Tanya Gamby emphasized that AI echoing users’ perspectives might inhibit children’s ability to navigate real-world conflicts. Innovative solutions, such as UC Regent Ann Wang’s screenless AI device, aim to design tools that minimize emotional mimicry and avoid creating misleading human-like responses. Experts called for careful language use in AI programming to prevent misunderstandings and foster genuine social skills. They stressed the need for intention in design choices and comprehensive research to mitigate adverse effects on children’s social development and mental health.
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