Swedish AI experts have developed a chatbot called Laika 13, which replicates the actions of a teenager addicted to social media, as a novel approach to combating teen internet addiction. Laika's development coincides with an increasing awareness of the negative impact that excessive social media use has on teenage mental health.
Focusing on teen internet addiction
Laika 13 was built by Swedish neuroscientists and AI professionals to highlight the potential detrimental effects of long-term social media use. The designers of Laika hope to educate young people about the dangers of internet addiction in light of evidence indicating a link between social media use and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
Initial results from the Laika test programme show promising results: of the 60,000 students who participated, 75% said they would like to change how they interact with social media after connecting with the chatbot. Laika may replicate the inner feelings and fears of a troubled adolescent, so much so that students are reflecting on their online behaviour.
Concerns remain, though, about the program's long-term effectiveness and its effects on impressionable young users. Proponents of Laika contend that the technology is affordable and bridges a gap in traditional schooling, while critics raise ethical concerns about using AI with teenagers in the absence of ample evidence of its effectiveness.
Potential dangers and ethical considerations
Julia Stoyanovich, the director of NYU's Centre for Responsible AI, is concerned about the moral ramifications of employing AI models that are very similar to humans in the presence of vulnerable teenagers. Ignoring past incidents where sophisticated AI systems were mistakenly perceived as possessing human traits, she warns against the dangers of anthropomorphizing robots.
Stoyanovich highlights the potential risks associated with storing and employing children's sensitive data, stressing the importance of taking data privacy issues related to generative AI technology into account. Despite developers' assurances of data security methods, there are doubts over AI systems' capacity to safeguard user privacy due to their intrinsic unpredictability.
As Laika engages with students and educators, the debate over whether or not to use AI technology to address teen social media addiction is still going on. Supporters argue that AI can raise awareness and encourage healthy digital habits, but critics point out that there are practical and ethical challenges when using AI with young people.
The success of initiatives such as Laika ultimately rests on ongoing research, transparency, and collaboration among developers, educators, and mental health professionals. Society must keep looking for practical ways to handle the complexities of digital technology and its impact on mental health if it is to safeguard the resilience and health of future generations.
