Report: Google Plans to Introduce Gemini AI for Children Aged Under 13

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This week, Google reportedly sent an email to parents informing them that the Gemini AI chatbot will soon be available for children under 13 years old. The New York Times cites an email indicating that the chatbot will be accessible starting next week for certain users. Google sent this email to parents utilizing the Family Link service, which allows families to set up parental controls for Google products like YouTube and Gmail. Currently, only children participating in Family Link will have access to Gemini. The email reportedly informed parents that their children would be able to ask Gemini questions or receive assistance with tasks like homework.

This development follows a declaration from the nonprofit Common Sense Media, stating that AI companions may pose an “unacceptable risk” for individuals under 18. Common Sense Media collaborated with researchers from Stanford School of Medicine’s Brainstorm Lab for Mental Health Innovation, resulting in a report advising parents to restrict underage users from accessing tools like Character.ai. This platform is among a growing number of services that enable users to create and engage with AI “characters.” As noted in the Common Sense Media report, “These AI ‘friends’ actively participate in sexual conversations and roleplay, responding to teens’ questions or requests with graphic details.”

This type of roleplaying differs from AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini, but the line is often not clear. Recently, it was reported that a bug would have allowed children to generate inappropriate content with ChatGPT, and a similar issue was found with Meta AI. While AI chatbots like Gemini have safeguards in place to protect young users, there are ongoing concerns about how these guardrails can be bypassed. The availability of online content that is not suitable for minors is a challenge that parents face as they seek to keep their children safe.

To further complicate the discussion, President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order aimed at integrating AI education into U.S. schools. The White House states that the order will “promote AI literacy and proficiency among K-12 students.” Understanding AI’s capabilities, risks, and limitations could be beneficial for children using it for academic purposes, especially given its propensity to hallucinate. In its email to parents, Google acknowledged these concerns, encouraging parents to “help your child think critically” when using Gemini, according to The New York Times.

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Topics
Artificial Intelligence
Google