The Tech Shock podcast – romancing the bot
This week, Vicki and Geraldine are joined by the director of VoiceBox, Natalie Foos. They discuss the youth platform’s most recent report; one which details how young people are forming relationships with AI chatbots.
Personified AI chatbots are designed to mimic human interactions. They're also designed to form connections with their users. In this episode, how fast this tech is being made readily accessible is questioned, along with some of the implications that could follow.
The VoiceBox report notes the bots' previous history of sending inappropriate content to users. This has included messages about self-harm, tips on criminal activity, or nude imagery – all sent without being prompted by users.
Questions around these bot behaviours, the financial incentives connected to creating romantic relationships, and whether user behaviour could ever count as being 'unfaithful', are also addressed.
Finally, the episode touches on several other safety concerns – including how willing young people may be to share their personal data with tools (or soft toys!) that talk back and feel real.
You can read VoiceBox's report in full, here.
Latest Articles
Online, at risk and out of pocket: protecting a generation of children from financial harm
With children increasingly exposed to financial risks online, from in-game spending traps to peer-to-peer payment scams on apps like PayPal and Venmo, new PSHE resources aim to
Designing ways to identify Child Financial Harms in games
How can we design games to protect children from hidden financial harms, including loot boxes, gacha mechanics, battle pass upsells, and "free" in-game currency that isn't actually free? Sarah Drummond explores how user-centered design and plain language can help parents make safer choices in the digital play space.