Google Gemini will be available to children under 13 – but should we allow it?

After replacing Google Assistant with the new Gemini voice assistant in late 2023, Google is gradually expanding the audience for which the technology is available. Gemini first came out for adult users, followed by teens and educational accounts. Now the company has announced that the AI assistant will soon be available to children under 13 through Google Family Link.

An AI assistant will soon be available to children under 13 through Google Family Link.

Sending notifications to parents has already begun

Google has already started sending emails to parents whose kids are under the age of 13, announcing the imminent arrival of Gemini on Android devices. That means kids will be able to use the voice assistant on their smartphones and tablets, including Samsung’s Galaxy devices.

And that means kids will be able to use the voice assistant on their smartphones and tablets, including Samsung Galaxy devices.

The questions of safety and appropriateness are still open

Although technically Gemini is now becoming available to children, questions remain as to whether parents are willing to trust their children to interact with AI. No artificial intelligence is perfect, and even with built-in filters, there’s a risk of inappropriate content being shown. Google assures that children’s interactions with Gemini will not be used to train models, and parents are advised to teach their children how to verify information from AI.

Gemini doesn’t learn from children’s queries, but that doesn’t solve all problems

Despite Google’s privacy claims, doubts remain about children’s ability to critically evaluate information from the voice assistant. The company emphasizes that Gemini won’t collect children’s data, but that doesn’t guarantee absolute safety of use.

If your child has a Galaxy smartphone or tablet, access to Gemini will be available as early as this week. Still, it’s worth thinking twice before you allow them to use the AI assistant.

The article Google Gemini will be available to kids under 13 – but should we allow it?” was first published on ITZine.ru.