Transcript: US Senate Hearing On ‘Examining the Harm of AI Chatbots’
US lawmakers held their first major hearing on safety concerns around artificial intelligence chatbots in the wake of a spate of recent reporting that the tools have engaged in troubling exchanges with users, including conversations that led to self-harm.
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony from three parents whose children died by suicide or engaged in self-harm after interacting with AI chatbots, as well as a top children’s safety advocate and a researcher who studies online harms:
Matthew Raine, whose 16-year-old son Adam Raine died by suicide after using OpenAI’s ChatGPT. His family has sued the company, alleging that ChatGPT helped him to explore suicide methods and served as his “suicide coach.”
Megan Garcia, who alleged in a lawsuit that Character.ai encouraged her 14-year-old son Sewell Setzer III to take his life, and that it was ultimately responsible for his death.
Robbie Torney, senior director of AI programs at the advocacy group Common Sense Media.
Mitch Prinstein, chief of psychology strategy and integration at the American Psychological Association.
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