OpenAI | Parental controls to be installed on ChatGPT in response to teen’s suicide – Augusta Free Press
The death of 16-year-old Adam Raine by suicide in April has led to OpenAI’s announcement that parental controls will be installed later in September on ChatGPT.
The parental control tools on the artificial intelligence (AI) will enable parents to set usage limits and receive notifications if “acute distress” is detected by the chatbot.
The AI company’s response comes after AI experts voiced concern that the technology is putting youth at risk. Virginia Tech child psychologist and AI expert Cayce Myers said parental controls may not be enough for technology that is complex and unpredictable.
“The legal responsibility of these platforms is going to be a major issue moving forward. Parental notification and control is a step in the direction toward reigning in the excesses of AI, but ultimate control over the platforms is more complex. It involves programming, user self-regulation, and access issues for vulnerable populations,” said Myers, a professor in the VTech School of Communication.
According to Myers, chatbots like ChatGPT are capable of creating complex relationships with users, which is what Adam’s parents have claimed in the lawsuit they filed against OpenAI. They state that their son formed a close bond with the AI technology and trusted it when it shared information with him about how to die by suicide.
“While this ability improves user experience and can actually help those who face social isolation and loneliness, it can also go awry, exacerbating mental health issues,” Myers, author of “Artificial Intelligence and Law in the Communication Professions,” “Profession and Money in Politics: Campaign Fundraising in the 2020 Presidential Election” and “Campaigns Inc.,” said.
AI and parental control came into national conversation in the 1990s, but youth using AI is new for the 21st Century and somewhat uncharted territory for AI companies, legislation and parents.
“We don’t know a lot about the protective and risk factors associated with ChatGPT or other chatbots. But we do have strong evidence that parental monitoring is beneficial for children’s media use,” Rosanna Breaux, a child psychologist and director of the Child Study Center, said.
Parental mentoring of technology is linked to better academic performance and social ability, according to Breaux. Reduced screen time and limited exposure to negative or violent content is beneficial for youth.
“We can expect similar benefits when parents are aware of how often and in what ways their children are using AI,” she said.
Restrictions alone may not limit consequences of youth using the Internet. She recommends several ways for parents to reduce their children’s risk of mental health crisis and suicide.
“Notifications triggered by distressing, violent, or other potentially problematic content could help enforce oversight without parents needing to directly restrict use of AI. But this should also be coupled with strategies like offering mental health resources when there are concerning searches,” Breaux said.
Breaux encourages parents to talk with their children about their own mental health and coping mechanisms, and not to be afraid to hear about their child’s emotions or thoughts about suicide. By normalizing seeking help, parents can destigmatize mental health and seek therapy for their child, if necessary.
She also encourages parents to monitor their child for major mood or behavior changes, including change in enjoying what they usually enjoy, withdrawing socially or becoming irritable, as well as changes in appetite, sleep motivation or energy level.
Rebecca J. Barnabi is the national editor of Augusta Free Press. A graduate of the University of Mary Washington, she began her journalism career at The Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star. In 2013, she was awarded first place for feature writing in the Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia Awards Program, and was honored by the Virginia School Boards Association’s 2019 Media Honor Roll Program for her coverage of Waynesboro Schools. Her background in newspapers includes writing about features, local government, education and the arts.
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