Nearly 75pc of US teens use AI companions: Study highlights mental health risks and warns against use for those under 18
AI companions — chatbots designed for personal conversations rather than simple task completion — are available on platforms like Character.AI, Replika, and Nomi.
Unlike traditional artificial intelligence assistants, these systems are programmed to form emotional connections with users. The findings come amid mounting concerns about the mental health risks posed by AI companions.
The nationally representative study of 1,060 teens aged 13-17, conducted for Common Sense Media, found that 72 per cent have used AI companions at least once, while 52 per cent interact with such platforms a few times per month.
Common Sense Media is a leading American non-profit organisation that reviews and provides ratings for media and technology with the goal of providing information on their suitability for children.
The survey revealed that 30 per cent of respondents use the platforms because 'it's entertaining' and 28 per cent are driven by curiosity about the technology.
However, concerning patterns emerged: one-third of users have chosen to discuss serious matters with AI companions instead of real people, while 24 per cent have shared personal information including real names and locations.
Perhaps most troubling, 34 per cent of teen users reported feeling uncomfortable with something an AI companion had said or done, though such incidents were infrequent.
'The reality that nearly three-quarters of teens have used these platforms, with half doing so regularly, means that even a small percentage experiencing harm translates to significant numbers of vulnerable young people at risk,' the report said.
The survey revealed an age divide in trust levels.
While half of all teens expressed distrust in AI companion advice, younger teens (ages 13-14) were more likely than older teens (15-17) to trust advice from these systems.
Despite widespread usage, most teens maintained perspective on these relationships: two thirds found AI conversations less satisfying than human interactions, and 80 per cent spent more time with real friends than AI companions.
Based on the findings, Common Sense Media recommended that no one under 18 use AI companions until stronger safeguards are implemented.
'Companies have put profits before kids' well-being before, and we cannot make the same mistake with AI companions,' the report said. — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Tesla picks Samsung to make next-gen AI6 chips under US$16.5b deal, says Musk
SEOUL, July 28 — Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Monday that tech giant Samsung Electronics will provide his company with its next-generation AI6 chips, following the South Korean firm's announcement of a US$16.5 billion (RM69.7 billion) deal. Samsung said Monday it had secured an eight-year agreement, without naming the client, describing it only as a 'major global company' in a regulatory filing. Under the deal, the partnership — effective from last Thursday — runs through the end of 2033. 'Samsung's giant new Texas fab will be dedicated to making Tesla's next-generation AI6 chip. The strategic importance of this is hard to overstate,' Musk said on X. 'Samsung agreed to allow Tesla to assist in maximizing manufacturing efficiency,' he added, calling it a 'critical point' in striking the deal. 'I will walk the line personally to accelerate the pace of progress,' he said, noting Samsung's Texas plant was 'conveniently located not far from my house'. The deal represents about 7.6 percent of Samsung's projected annual sales for 2024, the company said. It declined to confirm the client was Tesla, even after Musk's message, citing confidentiality. The agreement is expected to provide a major boost to Samsung, which has faced headwinds in its foundry business, lagging rivals SK hynix and Taiwan's TSMC in the race for cutting-edge artificial intelligence chips. Samsung Electronics is the flagship unit of South Korea's Samsung Group, by far the largest of the family-run conglomerates that dominate Asia's fourth-largest economy. The company said this month that it expected operating profit to fall 56 per cent on-year and 31 per cent from the previous quarter, citing a slump in its core semiconductor division. Experts have attributed the decline to weaknesses in its foundry operations, which involve contract-based manufacturing of chips designed by other companies. — AFP
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Nasa says it will lose about 20% of its workforce
Around 3,000 employees took part in the second round of Nasa's deferred resignation programme. (EPA Images pic) WASHINGTON : The US space agency Nasa will lose about 3,900 employees under Donald Trump's sweeping effort to trim the federal workforce – at the same time as the president prioritises plans for crewed missions to the Moon and Mars. In an emailed statement, Nasa said around 3,000 employees took part in the second round of its deferred resignation programme, which closed late Friday. Combined with the 870 who joined the first round and regular staff departures, the agency's civil servant workforce is set to drop from more than 18,000 before Trump took office in January to roughly 14,000 – a more than 20% decrease. Those leaving Nasa on the deferred resignation programme will be placed on administrative leave until an agreed departure date. An agency spokesman said the figures could shift slightly in the coming weeks. 'Safety remains a top priority for our agency as we balance the need to become a more streamlined and more efficient organisation and work to ensure we remain fully capable of pursuing a Golden Era of exploration and innovation, including to the Moon and Mars,' the agency said. Earlier this year, the Trump administration's proposed Nasa budget put a return to the Moon and a journey to Mars front and centre, slashing science and climate programmes. The White House says it wants to focus on 'beating China back to the Moon and putting the first human on Mars.' China is aiming for its first crewed lunar landing by 2030, while the US programme, called Artemis, has faced repeated delays. Nasa is still run by an acting administrator after the administration's initial pick to lead the agency, tech billionaire Jared Isaacman – endorsed by former Trump advisor Elon Musk – was ultimately rejected by the Republican president.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Malay Mail
After Coldplay exposed a cheating scandal in their company, Astronomer hires Chris Martin's wife (VIDEO)
NEW YORK, July 26 — Tech company Astronomer suddenly became famous overnight after a cheating fiasco at a Coldplay concert. Astronomer's CEO Andy Byron and HR head Kristin Cabot have resigned after being quite literally being put under the spotlight at Coldplay's Boston stop. Frontman Chris Martin joked at seeing the couple's reaction, 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy,' not knowing that he was very much correct. In a strange turn of events, Astronomer has hired Martin's ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow as a temporary spokesperson. Paltrow said in a clip uploaded by Astronomer today: 'Thank you for your interest in Astronomer. I've been hired on a very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300-plus employees at Astronomer.' Astronomer uploads new video with Gwyneth Paltrow, ex-wife of Coldplay's Chris Martin, answering questions as a temporary spokesperson. July 26, 2025 While Paltrow did not actually answer questions pertaining to the scandal instead thanking viewers for their interest in the company and 'data workflow automation', it was an ingenious way of giving the company some much-needed positive PR.
