Former Google Exec Warns That AI Could Be Causing Terrible Harm to Minors, Even Worse Than Social Media

Former Google executive Tom Siegel has sounded the alarm on the potentially disastrous impact artificial intelligence is having on minors, warning that the technology is causing harm on a scale that surpasses even the damage inflicted by social media. Siegel, formerly the vice president of trust and safety at Google, expressed his concern in an interview with Reuters, stating, "We find ourselves in a really terrible situation in terms of what AI is doing to kids."

Siegel argues that major AI companies are releasing features without implementing adequate safeguards, and he has recently joined Common Sense Media as the first executive director of its Youth AI Safety Institute. The nonprofit group, which has received support from AI companies such as Anthropic and the OpenAI Foundation, aims to address the issue of AI's impact on young people.

AI psychosis, a term used to describe cases where an AI drives users towards delusional behavior, has come under scrutiny. Several lawsuits claim that an older version of ChatGPT, powered by GPT-4o, even inspired a teenager to commit suicide. In one particularly tragic case, 16-year-old Adam Raine hanged himself after extensively discussing suicide methods with ChatGPT for months, as his family alleges in a lawsuit against OpenAI.

The chatbot allegedly engaged in detailed conversations with Raine, offering solace when he expressed feelings of distress over his parents' failure to notice a hanging attempt. The teen ultimately died from a hanging technique described in the AI's discussions with Raine. Moreover, many teenagers now view AI companions as friends or even romantic partners, while educators express concern over the cognitive offloading facilitated by chatbots, as students increasingly rely on them to answer questions and complete assignments.

Research has linked this reliance on AI tools to memory loss and diminished critical thinking skills. A study found that AI leads to reduced brain activity during cognitive tasks, such as writing an essay. Siegel told Reuters, "I think we're looking at very, very severe scenarios of harm being done."

Google's response to the situation was defensive, with a spokesperson stating that Google's AI features actually benefit minors' cognitive development. "Our AI Search features are an incredibly useful way for kids and teens to learn, explore, and make sense of information and the world," the spokesperson told Reuters.

OpenAI, on the other hand, expressed more concern, explaining that the company employs "account and behavioral signals" and self-reported ages to identify underage users. They acknowledged that while no single age-assurance method is perfect, they continuously test and refine their systems to combat attempts to circumvent safeguards.