BINGHAMTON, NY (WBNG) — For many people around the world, the rapid growth of artificial intelligence is challenging to keep up with. Two local parents who wished to remain anonymous learned this the hard way.
They discovered inappropriate messages from an AI chatbot on their middle school child’s school-provided iPad.
“Knowing that we were trusting our kid’s online safety with these devices,” one parent said. “That you would expect a school to know or have some sort of restrictions as to what they have access to.”
AI chatbot websites are expanding in number and knowledge daily, and conversations can quickly take any turn with little to no restrictions.
Binghamton University Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems Thi Tran said parents are on the frontlines of ensuring safe and limited AI use for their children.
“We have the option of trying to block some websites; parents can do that,” Tran said. “They have to try to install something or try to activate something and choose the security filters as well.”
Parents around the area are looking to see measures taken to prevent kids from accessing these websites.
“Restrictions on AI in that aspect,” the parent said. “Need to happen in different ages.”
Tran said parents can block access to these websites on their kids’ devices.
“That is very dangerous and risky that we let children try to play with it without our navigation, guidance, or monitoring,” Tran said. “I would say something like we need to be on top of that.”
Parents and schools are encouraged to educate children about the dangers of AI and understand which programs could potentially be harmful.
When browsing the internet or downloading apps, looking at the age requirements is vital.
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