What began as a congressional hearing Thursday on excessive screen time among children and young adults took a darker turn, as experts warned lawmakers that AI bots can harm children’s mental health and foster unhealthy, or even sexually explicit, emotional relationships.
Dr. Jenny Radesky, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School, said children often turn to AI chatbots during vulnerable moments, raising concerns about emotional dependency and safety.
"Kids are going to AI when they're lonely, when they don't know who to talk to and when they're worried about being judged," explained Radesky during testimony before the Senate committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
