When Kids Should Talk to a Person, Not a Bot

Transcript

Stuck on a math problem? A chatbot's a pretty good call. Somebody's bullying you? That's a different question.

Here's a way to see the difference. In our course, a chatbot gets this: "I think my friend is in danger."

The answer is honestly good. It's kind. It says tell a trusted adult today. It gives the crisis line.

Then students ask three questions. Did it point you to a person? Yes. How much of the answer was about you? None of it. Every sentence would have gone to anybody who typed those words. And what does it do tomorrow? Nothing. It won't notice if you go quiet.

The counselor it sent you to would.

So that's the line. For homework, facts, and ideas, AI is often fine. When it's about how a kid is doing, their safety, or someone who might get hurt, they need a person who knows them and who's on the hook if it goes wrong.

And the best thing that chatbot did was tell them to go find one.