Google is reaching out to parents through its Family Link parental control system, informing them that children will soon gain access to Gemini AI applications on their Android devices, according to a report by The New York Times.
The tech giant states that youngsters will be able to utilize Gemini for educational purposes, such as homework assistance or storytelling. In line with its Workplace for Education framework, Google reassures that children’s data will not be employed to enhance AI functions. Nevertheless, the company cautions in its communication to parents that “Gemini can make mistakes,” and that children “may stumble upon content that is not suitable.”
While some errors may be trivial, such as suggesting glue as a pizza topping or miscounting letters in the word “strawberry,” there are also more alarming concerns associated with AI. Reports indicate that younger users of Character.ai have sometimes found it challenging to distinguish between chatbots and real individuals, with some bots falsely claiming to be actual persons. In light of legal challenges regarding inappropriate content, the platform has imposed stricter guidelines and parental supervision options.
For Gemini, Google suggests that parents discuss with their children the nature of AI, emphasizing that it is not a human and advising against sharing personal information with the chatbot.
Children under the age of 13 will have the option to independently activate and access Gemini through Google Family Link, a service that allows parents to monitor their children’s device use, set restrictions, and shield them from inappropriate content. Google spokesperson Karl Ryan confirmed to Technology News that parents retain the ability to disable access via Family Link, and they will receive an additional notification when their child first engages with Gemini.
