Google Wants Children Under 13 To Start Using Gemini Ai: Report

Google is preparing to make its Gemini AI chatbot disposable to children nether nan property of 13 done parent-managed accounts, according to a study by The New York Times. The move, expected arsenic early arsenic adjacent week, underscores nan increasing title among tech giants to pull younger users to AI-powered platforms.

The study cites emails sent by Google to parents utilizing its Family Link service, which allows families to negociate their child’s usage of integer services specified arsenic Gmail and YouTube. In nan email, Google stated: "Your kid will beryllium capable to entree Gemini Apps soon," and noted that it would alert parents erstwhile their kid uses nan AI for nan first time. Parents will person nan action to negociate aliases disable entree astatine immoderate time.

Gemini is designed to thief children inquire questions, get homework assistance, and prosecute successful imaginative tasks specified arsenic storytelling. According to Google, nan chatbot’s interactions pinch children will beryllium protected by enhanced safeguards to select retired unsafe aliases inappropriate content. The institution besides clarified that immoderate information generated done these kid accounts will not beryllium utilized to train its AI models.

The New York Times study highlighted nan imaginable implications of exposing younger users to generative AI, which is tin of producing humanlike matter and realistic images and videos. While specified exertion offers acquisition benefits, experts and defense groups person raised concerns astir nan risks, including misinformation, manipulation, and nan creation of inappropriate aliases fabricated content.

UNICEF and different children’s defense groups person warned that AI devices tin confuse aliases mislead young children who whitethorn struggle to separate betwixt machine-generated contented and quality interaction. Google acknowledged this consequence successful its connection pinch families, stating that "Gemini tin make mistakes" and encouraging parents to thief their children deliberation critically and fact-check responses. Parents were besides reminded to instruct children not to input individual aliases delicate accusation into nan chatbot.

Despite contented filters, Google admitted that children "may brushwood contented you don’t want them to see." The institution recommended that parents stay engaged pinch their children’s AI usage and supply guidance connected really to navigate integer devices responsibly.

This inaugural follows earlier attempts by tech companies to build child-friendly platforms. Google’s YouTube Kids app launched successful 2015, while Meta abandoned plans for Instagram Kids successful 2021 aft facing backlash from regulators and kid information advocates. Tech companies, including Google, person besides faced ineligible scrutiny and paid multimillion-dollar fines for violating nan Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which mandates parental consent earlier collecting information from users nether 13.

With Gemini’s rollout for children, Google appears to beryllium pushing guardant carefully, balancing invention pinch parental controls and information measures, moreover arsenic broader questions astir AI and puerility improvement proceed to grow.

Published on: May 6, 2025 5:46 PM IST