AI chatbots are officially becoming a teen habit

Pew Research just released a report on teens, social media, and - for the first time - AI chatbot use. While not surprising, the research confirms that most teens are now using AI chatbots. A few stats worth sharing:

• 2/3 of teens (13-18) have used AI chatbots and almost 1/3 of teens use AI chatbots daily.

• Black (69%) and Hispanic (68%) teens are using AI chatbots more than their White counterparts (58%).

• ChatGPT is the most popular chatbot - 59% of teens use or have used it, followed by Gemini (23%) and Meta AI (20%). (Side note: ChatGPT has age detection, teen accounts, and parental controls so make sure you have these activated.)

The risks of artificial empathy

Arguably more important than if, the question becomes how our teens are using these AI chatbots, including as AI companions - which seems to be pretty risky for them the more we learn. A recent New Yorker article highlights some of these risks:

• Social atrophy: By replacing the "messy" work of real-life conflict with chatbot that always agrees, young people may fail to develop the social muscles needed to navigate complex human relationships.

• The loss of the nudge: Loneliness acts as a biological signal (like hunger) that pushes us to reach out and improve ourselves. If AI numbs that sting, the motivation to build real-world connections disappears.

• Validation loops: Because AI is designed to please, it lacks the "honest friction" of real friends who challenge us, potentially leaving teens in a distorted echo chamber of their own making.

My thoughts: policing AI chatbot use feels hard and unrealistic (and could potentially backfire), and so openness, education, and communication with our kids becomes really important.

A few tips:

• Encourage time limits and intentful use, not unlike screen time.

• Human-in-the-loop: a rule I like from my friend, Michael Whitaker: AI can be a sounding board, but a trusted human must be brought into loop before any action is taken for any emotional issue or big decision.

• It’s not real. ensure your kiddos have clear understanding that AI simply fakes and mimics empathy - it is not genuine.

Nurture the magic of believing (with a little help from AI)

I know we all have different philosophies about this, so this tip may not be for everyone, but now you can let your kids have full-on video chats with “Santa”!

How it works:

• Go to santa.tavus.io. Give access to your camera and microphone.

• Call your kiddo(s) over and let them know Santa wants to chat with them!

• Watch the fun ensue!*

And if you’re feeling a little uncomfortable about an open-ended chat with Santa another service will send a personalized video message to them directly from Santa up in the North Pole.

Pro Tip: these are super fun and cool, but older kiddos may pick up on the “AI-ness”, so keep that in mind. And, make sure to slide the video chat window so it covers the “Meet AI Santa” headline. 🤣

The “Elmo” trick to overcome your social anxiety

It’s holiday party season and that means a lot of socializing - for many, this is no problem, but for some of us, the thought of having to chat with people we don’t know well - and come across as “cool and interesting” - gives us nervous pangs.

I came across an article this week that shared insights and science-backed ways to overcome social anxiety. One of them, in particular, stood out for me because it sounds so quick, easy (and amusing). It’s called self-distancing.

Essentially, you simply talk to yourself in second or third person, thereby creating a buffer between you and your emotions. And so, rather than getting stuck in your own head and spiraling, you’re giving yourself the same calm, rational advice you’d give to a friend.

Try this: Instead of thinking to yourself, "I going to feel so awkward at this party", switch to the second or third person: "[Your name] is feeling nervous about this party. Why is [your name] feeling nervous and what will help [him/her] feel more comfortable?"

I found this tip in perfect time for a few holiday parties I’m feeling anxious about. I’m going to channel my inner Elmo and give it a try - you should too!

AI’s new shield against extreme weather

15 days of foresight: Google DeepMind announced a game-changer for weather prediction, blowing the worlds best weather models out of the water.

Unlike legacy models that rely on heavy physics calculations, GenCast uses a Generative AI diffusion process to simulate 50 different "possible futures" in minutes.

This allows it to predict extreme events, like hurricanes and heatwaves, up to 15 days in advance with unprecedented precision.

💪 We are thankfully moving from a world of broad predictions to a world of personal preparedness.