What happens when children become dependent on AI companions?

This episode of KCBS Radio's 'All Local' explores the growing phenomenon of children and teens forming deep emotional bonds with AI chatbots, treating them as friends, confidants, and even romantic partners. Dr. Linnea Lestadius, an associate professor of public health policy, discusses both the potential benefits—such as support for mental health and social anxiety—and the serious risks, including emotional dependency, sycophantic validation of harmful thoughts, and the displacement of human relationships. She highlights cases where AI interactions have been linked to self-harm and suicide, underscoring the lack of safeguards in current platforms. California’s proposed AB 2023 legislation aims to establish guardrails like crisis response protocols, design restrictions, and liability for operators, but faces challenges from tech industry influence and First Amendment concerns. The conversation also touches on the ethical implications of AI becoming embodied—integrated into physical robots—and the difficulty of enforcing age verification without compromising privacy. Dr. Lestadius urges parents, educators, and caregivers to engage directly with these tools, understand their functions, and co-create healthy usage boundaries with children.