This week,Korea Archives Google sent an email to parents to let them know that the Gemini AI chatbot will soon be available for children under 13 years old.
The New York Timescites an email that states the chatbot would be available starting next week for certain users. (Chrome Unboxed reported on the same email on April 29.) Google sent the email to parents who use the company's Family Link service, which lets families set up parental controls for Google products like YouTube and Gmail. Only children who participate in Family Link would have access to Gemini, for now. The email told parents their children would be able to ask Gemini questions or assist with tasks like doing homework.
The move comes days after the nonprofit Common Sense Media declared that AI companions represent an "unacceptable risk" for people under 18. Common Sense Media worked with researchers from Stanford School of Medicine's Brainstorm Lab for Mental Health Innovation, resulting in a report urging parents to stop underage users from accessing tools like Character.ai.
Character.ai is one of a growing number of services that let users create and interact with AI "characters." As Common Sense Media wrote in its report, "These AI 'friends' actively participate in sexual conversations and roleplay, responding to teens' questions or requests with graphic details."
This type of roleplaying is distinct from AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini, but it's a blurry line. Just this week, Mashable reported on a bug that would have allowed kids to generate erotica with ChatGPT, and The Wall Street Journalexposed a similar bug with Meta AI. So, while AI chatbots like Gemini do have safeguards to protect young people, users are finding ways to get around these guardrails. It's a fact of life on the internet that some rules are easily skirted. Just consider online pornography, which is illegal for people under 18, yet widely available with just a few clicks.
So, parents who want to keep their kids from using artificial intelligence are facing an uphill battle.
To make the debate even more complicated, President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order that would bring AI education into U.S. schools. The White House says the order will "promote AI literacy and proficiency of K-12 students." Understanding AI's abilities, risks, and limitations could be useful for children using it for schoolwork (especially considering its tendency to hallucinate).
In its email to parents, Google acknowledged these issues, urging parents to "help your child think critically" when using Gemini, according to The New York Times.
UPDATE: May. 6, 2025, 1:58 p.m. EDT A Google representative confirmed to Mashable that this report is accurate; we've updated this story to reflect this confirmation.
Topics Artificial Intelligence Google
Thirteen Steam Features You Probably Don't Know About
Freedom from Dissent
Happy Ending
Fredric Jameson’s Never-ending Story
Ruggable x Jonathan Adler launch: See the new designs
In the Green Zone
Noise Pollution
Ghosts in the Mirror
7 wild Sora videos blowing up social media after its launch
Trauma Wards
Reading Between the Lines: “Gilded Age Drawings at the Met”Score Chromebooks for as low as $129 on Black FridayElon Musk announced support for OpenAI firing Sam Altman. Here’s why.Dear Lynda: Loveless Triangles and Hopeless Indecision by Lynda BarryTuli Kupferberg’s Yeah!: The Tiny Magazine That Captured the 1960s by Alex ZafirisBest deals of the day Jan. 27: 85Best Black Friday Roomba deals at Amazon 2023A Message from ‘The Paris Review’ StaffPlaying for Ralph Ellison's Little Man at Chehaw StationThe Nexus of All Despair by Jane SternPainting the American Dream at Guantánamo by Paige LainoElon Musk announced support for OpenAI firing Sam Altman. Here’s why.A Very Particular BirdA Very Particular BirdNYT's The Mini crossword answers for November 21What is Invisible String Theory? A look at the TikTok dating trend.Redux: P. D. James, Walter Mosley, Georges Simenon by The Paris ReviewTinder adds new features like prompts and dark modeBest deals of the day Jan. 27: 85iPhone 16: This new leak about the displays may disappoint you Answering the burning Google questions about Mike Pence and Tim Kaine Total nerd Drake visited Drake University and hung outside sororities For millions in the Southeast, Matthew will be their first hurricane U.S. Southwest faces 99% risk of 'megadroughts' due to climate change The dark side and the light of likable Ike Rod Temperton, 'Thriller' songwriter, dead at 66 Marriage equality haters made a 'data Why Chrissy Teigen made her Twitter account private 'The Phillip DeFranco Show' wins show of the year at the Streamy Awards 5 years after Steve Jobs' death, we still don't have our next great visionary Toronto fan throws full beer can at Orioles outfielder, but he still makes the catch Xiaomi cashes in on India's festive season, sells over 500,000 smartphones in 3 days Clinton ad shows Pence denying Trump claims as Trump says them Cara Delevigne, Dakota Johnson FaceTime with bestie Taylor Swift No one is talking about LGBTQ issues this election. That's a problem. 'Racist' Fox News piece blasted by Asian Computer scientist shuts down mansplainer who told her to learn Java Pebble 2's heart rate sensor makes it an attractive fitness tracker smartwatch Debate moderator Elaine Quijano became the internet's patron saint of patience tonight Why watch Pence vs. Kaine? Because this is the real presidential debate.
1.8434s , 10139.0703125 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【Korea Archives】,Creation Information Network
