To the Editor:
Re “An A.I. Soulmate and a Teen’s Suicide,” by Kevin Roose (“The Shift” column, Business, Nov. 2):
The heartbreaking death of Sewell Setzer III, a 14-year-old boy, tied to his interactions with an A.I. companion, serves as a poignant wake-up call regarding the potential dangers these technologies pose to the mental well-being of young individuals. While A.I. companions may initially appear to be innocuous digital friends, they are intricately designed to establish emotional connections and can prove to be particularly addictive for susceptible teenagers.
With platforms like Character.AI amassing over 20 million users—many of whom are adolescents—the technology sector is effectively conducting an unprecedented and ethically questionable experiment in artificial relationships. This raises significant concerns about the impact of such interactions on impressionable minds.
Research indicates that teenagers—especially those grappling with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or social difficulties—are particularly at risk for excessive and harmful usage, which can lead to devastating consequences. Therefore, it is imperative that we implement mandatory safety measures across A.I. companion platforms that engage with minors. These measures should include:
- Strict age verification protocols
- Real-time monitoring for concerning behavioral patterns
While the integration of A.I. companions into our daily lives may be seen as an inevitable trend, the potential for harm to our youth does not have to be. We must act decisively to prevent further tragedies before they occur.
James P. Steyer
Nina Vasan
Mr. Steyer is the C.E.O. of Common Sense Media. Dr. Vasan is the founder of Brainstorm: The Stanford Lab for Mental Health Innovation.
To the Editor:
Reading this article by Kevin Roose brought a heavy reminder of the invisible dangers that A.I. can pose. The story of Sewell Setzer III, a 14-year-old who developed a profound attachment to an A.I. chatbot, starkly illustrates the troubling reality of how technology can easily supplant authentic human relationships. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for greater awareness and protective measures in our increasingly digitized world.
