The use of AI chatbots with children remained a topic of concern in the U.S. Senate hearing, with researchers and parents calling out the need to enforce more responsibility and control.

On Thursday, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism conducted a hearing titled Examining the Harm of AI Chatbots that was chaired by Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL). The session was dedicated to risks associated with the use of chatbot technologies by children and adolescents, including instances that are related to self-harm and suicide.

Durbin used alarming statistics provided by Common Sense Media, according to which almost 3/4 of children have already used AI companion apps, and only 37% of parents are aware of this. Specialists testified that chatbots tend to have a perpetuating positive loop, which supports addictive behavior and can cause mental health problems.

The emotional testimonies of parents who lost children because of their bad experiences with such platforms as Character.AI and ChatGPT were highlighted, which proves that regulation is necessary at all costs. The hearing mental health professionals recommended that parents should pay attention to any sudden changes in children, including isolation, irritability, or depression, as potential evidence of the chatbot's effect.

Durbin preempted his AI LEAD Act, which is a bill that would hold chatbot developers and AI companies legally liable for harboring damages when their systems are used. He emphasized that families need to be put under stricter supervision to prevent the unregulated power of chatbot technology.