A former Google trust and safety executive is warning that AI companies risk repeating the mistakes made during the rise of social media, this time with systems that can form much more personal relationships with children.
Tom Siegel, who previously led trust and safety work at Google, told Reuters that artificial intelligence could pose greater risks to children than social media if companies deploy increasingly capable systems without stronger safeguards.
Siegel has become the first executive director of the Youth AI Safety Institute, a new initiative from Common Sense Media. He is calling for more rigorous age verification, independent safety assessments and common standards for companies offering AI systems to minors.
The concern extends beyond conventional harmful content. Researchers and policymakers are increasingly examining how conversational AI may affect dependency, judgment and mental health, particularly when systems are designed to sustain long, highly personalized interactions.
The institute is backed by organizations that include Anthropic and the OpenAI Foundation, according to Reuters. Siegel said voluntary industry safeguards are unlikely to be sufficient on their own.
Source: Reuters.
