Google Plans to Roll Out Its A.I. Chatbot to Children Under 13

Source: NYT

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The chatbot will be available to children whose parents use Family Link, a Google service that enables families to set up Gmail and opt into services like YouTube for their child. To sign up for a child account, parents provide the tech company with personal data like their child’s name and birth date.

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Google and other A.I. chatbot developers are locked in a fierce competition to capture young users. President Trump recently urged schools to adopt the tools for teaching and learning. Millions of teenagers are already using chatbots as study aids, writing coaches and virtual companions. Children’s groups warn the chatbots could pose serious risks to child safety. The bots also sometimes make stuff up.

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Google acknowledged some risks in its email to families this week, alerting parents that “Gemini can make mistakes” and suggesting they “help your child think critically” about the chatbot.

The email also recommended parents teach their child how to fact-check Gemini’s answers. And the company suggested parents remind their child that “Gemini isn’t human” and “not to enter sensitive or personal info in Gemini.”

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Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/02/technology/google-gemini-ai-chatbot-kids.html