Welcome to the forefront of conversational AI as we explore the fascinating world of AI chatbots in our dedicated blog series. Discover the latest advancements, applications, and strategies that propel the evolution of chatbot technology. From enhancing customer interactions to streamlining business processes, these articles delve into the innovative ways artificial intelligence is shaping the landscape of automated conversational agents. Whether you’re a business owner, developer, or simply intrigued by the future of interactive technology, join us on this journey to unravel the transformative power and endless possibilities of AI chatbots.
As highlighted by Techcrunch
According to a Pew Research Center study published on Tuesday, AI-based chatbots have become part of everyday life for American teenagers.
The most common uses of AI among this age group are information search (57%) and help with learning (54%). Some teens also use AI the way friends or relatives did before: 16% chat with chatbots for informal conversation, 12% seek emotional support or advice.
While some teens seek solace in chatbots, mental health professionals approach this with caution. General tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok are not designed with psychological support in mind, and in the worst cases they can have serious psychological consequences.
“We are social creatures, and there is no doubt a challenge that these systems can isolate people. There are many cases where people can interact with these tools, but they may drift away from the outside world of facts and lose connection with interpersonal communication, which can lead to fairly isolating – and sometimes worse – consequences.”
The survey also highlights differences between how teenagers perceive AI and what their parents think about AI use: about 51% of parents believe their teen uses chatbots, while 64% of teens confirm it.
Parents mainly support using AI for information seeking (79%) and educational support (58%). However, when it comes to informal conversations (28%) or emotional support/advice (18%), attitudes vary sharply. In 58% of parents, they believe that using AI for these purposes makes no sense at all.
The issue of AI safety continues to spark debate among leading companies in the industry. For instance, Character.AI decided to restrict access to its chatbot to users under 18 after criticism and lawsuits related to the suicides of two teenagers who had long corresponded with chatbots. OpenAI also announced the end of support for the GPT-4o model, which drew scrutiny from those who relied on it for emotional support.
Despite the variety of uses, teens have mixed views on AI’s impact on society. When asked about the future impact over the next 20 years, 31% expect positive changes, while 26% expect negative ones.
Experts call for responsible development and regulation of AI, especially in the context of emotional support and work with youth, to minimize risks of isolation and strengthen safe channels of psychological help outside of technology.
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