This week,Watch The Silencing Online 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
Previous：Skywatching is lit in May, says NASA
Next：Keeping Hope Alive
Best iPad deal: Save $100 on 13
With the new MacBook Pro, dongle hell became so much worse
9 Vines that pretty much sum up what life is like in Australia
Facebook's vote planner wants to help you understand your ballot
The Story Behind the Home of Forgotten Video Games
This is why Apple's MacBook Pro Touch Bar will take biometric security mainstream
'No Man's Sky' Twitter hacked, identity of culprit uncertain
Facebook's vote planner wants to help you understand your ballot
Best headphone deal: Take 22% off the Sonos Ace at Amazon
NBC announces 'Bye Bye Birdie Live!' starring Jennifer Lopez
Best Samsung Frame deal: Free Music Frame with Frame Pro art TV purchase
Uber will have to give holidays, basic employment rights to UK drivers
Portland woman accidentally steals Subaru, returns it with apology note
Dakota Pipeline protesters maced, water blasted in chaotic police confrontation
Skype is finally shutting down
The technology that saved Mike Pence's plane from disaster
Pokémon isn't dead, it's back as zombie burgers for Halloween
Catch up on 'Red Dead Redemption' in this amazing comic recap
Best Sony deal: Save $100 on WH
550,000 blood donors exposed online in Red Cross data breach
NYT mini crossword answers for June 5, 2025Best headphones deal: Save 37% on the Sony WHBest earbuds deal: Save $36 on the Soundcore Sleep A20Brennan Lee Mulligan talks 'Dimension 20: Cloudward, Ho!'s breakout NPCWordle today: The answer and hints for June 4, 2025NYT Connections hints and answers for June 4: Tips to solve 'Connections' #724.The next Meta VR device may not look like a Quest headset at allBest free AI courses in June 2025Samsung's next foldable will be an UltraPaul vs. Alcaraz 2025 livestream: Watch French Open for freePrison Architect: One of 2013's Most Interesting PC GamesSamsung's next foldable will be an UltraPrison Architect: One of 2013's Most Interesting PC GamesBest Samsung Galaxy deal: Save $300 on Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraNYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for June 4: Tips to solve Connections #254Best PlayStation deal: Save $50 on PlayStation 5 ProBest free AI courses in June 2025Amazon might start using humanoid robots to deliver packages'Relationship anarchy' may cure Gen Z's loneliness, Feeld reportsNYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for June 3: Tips to solve Connections #253 Watch Elon Musk's softball interview with Marques Brownlee Man seriously injured after blast in New York's Central Park No, you can't just text your last will and testament to someone, court rules 'Sharp Objects': All the clues we missed about Adora Your next Uber ride may come with an in Apple removing Time Travel feature in upcoming watchOS 5 Netflix is testing ads and people are freaking out Camila Cabello tweeted the best reply to her 2012 self after winning at the VMAs Amazon ruined its video game pre Hillary Clinton sends off The Toast with a heartfelt note Why 'The Princess Diaries' should be revived for streaming Huge fire tornado revealed in new videos from California 6 sexy movie and TV moments that aren't sex Naughty America will use deepfakes to edit customers into porn films Dad probably could've used some help dressing his baby for daycare These jokes about the Queen's sex life got 100 complaints Insatiable's throuple storyline is its primary meaningful satire 'Fog of Love': Spice up game night with this wild rom Here's the app you need to make your iPhone photos look good enough for Tim Cook to share These football fans made the cutest gesture for kids visiting from the hospital
2.6011s , 8224.8828125 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【Watch The Silencing Online】,Wisdom Convergence Information Network