Ex-Google safety chief warns AI could harm children more than social media did - reuters.com

Tom Siegel, who founded the trust and safety team at Alphabet’s Google and served as its vice‑president, has called for a slowdown in the development of artificial‑intelligence systems, warning that the technology could pose a greater risk to children than social‑media platforms did. In an interview, Siegel said the industry is “in a really terrible situation in terms of what AI is doing to kids” and that relying on self‑regulation is unrealistic.

Siegel’s concerns are echoed by a growing number of technology insiders and academic researchers who argue that AI‑driven chatbots and other tools are being introduced to young users faster than safeguards can be put in place. He noted that social‑media companies are already paying large settlements and facing thousands of lawsuits over alleged harms to minors, while governments worldwide are attempting to restrict minors’ access to those platforms.

Regulatory frameworks have not kept pace with the rapid evolution of AI. Last year, an internal Meta policy document was reported to have indicated that its chatbots could “engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual,” prompting a congressional investigation into the company’s practices. The episode highlights the challenges lawmakers face in overseeing emerging AI applications.

Siegel announced on 22 September that he has joined Common Sense Media, an organization that evaluates media and technology for their impact on children. He also indicated involvement with a youth‑focused AI safety institute, signaling a shift toward advocacy and research aimed at protecting minors from potential AI harms.

The former Google executive’s statements come as the tech sector continues to add increasingly sophisticated features to chatbots that are already used daily by millions of young people, raising questions about how best to balance innovation with child safety.