That voice belongs to an AI chatbot — and millions of American children have quietly adopted one as a close friend. AI chatbots are built to engage users, validate their feelings and keep them coming back. AI chatbots are trained on enormous datasets drawn from across the internet. [3]Educational and social benefitsDespite the documented risks, researchers caution against dismissing AI chatbots entirely. Under current law, AI chatbot companies are generally not classified as mandatory reporters the way teachers, doctors or social workers are.

Source: Washington Post March 29, 2026 20:04 UTC