During a Senate testimony, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, made it clear that he doesn't envision a future where his son forms close ties with artificial intelligence. Responding to a question about whether he'd want his child to bond with a chatbot, Altman rejected the idea without hesitation.
This came as part of a broader conversation about how to protect children from the potential dangers of AI, especially with the increasing amount of personal information being shared with these systems. As AI becomes more sophisticated, it’s learning more about users, raising significant questions about privacy. Altman, who became a father in February, emphasized the need for greater care.
He noted that many adults are already growing emotionally dependent on AI, using it as a source of comfort. While Altman acknowledged that this trend isn’t entirely harmful, he stressed that it must be watched closely as it continues to evolve. He also argued that while adults should have the freedom to use AI tools more openly, children should be more carefully protected.
One challenge, however, is that it’s not always easy to know whether someone is a child or an adult when interacting with AI online. Altman suggested that if it were possible to draw a clear line, the rules could be adjusted, allowing more flexibility for adults while tightening restrictions for kids.
Reflecting on what it means to raise a child in an AI-driven world, Altman has said that his son will grow up in a world where AI is always around. However, despite his thoughts on how AI will shape future generations, Altman now finds his greatest pride not in his role at OpenAI, but in his son's health milestones, especially after the child overcame early challenges following a premature birth.
Image: DIW-Aigen
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This came as part of a broader conversation about how to protect children from the potential dangers of AI, especially with the increasing amount of personal information being shared with these systems. As AI becomes more sophisticated, it’s learning more about users, raising significant questions about privacy. Altman, who became a father in February, emphasized the need for greater care.
He noted that many adults are already growing emotionally dependent on AI, using it as a source of comfort. While Altman acknowledged that this trend isn’t entirely harmful, he stressed that it must be watched closely as it continues to evolve. He also argued that while adults should have the freedom to use AI tools more openly, children should be more carefully protected.
One challenge, however, is that it’s not always easy to know whether someone is a child or an adult when interacting with AI online. Altman suggested that if it were possible to draw a clear line, the rules could be adjusted, allowing more flexibility for adults while tightening restrictions for kids.
Reflecting on what it means to raise a child in an AI-driven world, Altman has said that his son will grow up in a world where AI is always around. However, despite his thoughts on how AI will shape future generations, Altman now finds his greatest pride not in his role at OpenAI, but in his son's health milestones, especially after the child overcame early challenges following a premature birth.
Read next: How to Detect Misinformation During India-Pakistan Tension Without Falling for Manipulated or Misleading Sources
