Google is currently working on making Gemini AI, a family of multimodal AI models developed by Google, available for children under 13 years. The tech giant plans to start rolling this feature out in May 2025. Meanwhile, this feature will only be available to Kids who are set up with managed family accounts.
In other words, Kids are dedicated to accessing the AI features and apps through Google Family Link, with safety measures in place because there are concerns about AI's impact on kids. One notable mistake AI has ever done in history is recommending glue as a pizza topping.
It's also worth noting that the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has called for regulations on generative AI in education, including age limits and data protection measures, due to concerns about harm. There are fears that AI chatbots, including Gemini, can "hallucinate" or provide incorrect information, which could mislead children.
Additionally, there are also fears about the psychological impact and the ability of children to discern AI from human interaction, with some sources noting that safeguards can be bypassed by determined users.
To reduce instances like these, Google has made it explicitly clear in an email sent to parents that parents need to explain how AI works to their kids before exposing them to it. Google says parents should inform their children that AI isn't human, and not to share or discuss any sensitive information with the chatbot.
Despite the usability leans on toward needing parental guidance due to potential risks, it still have it own usefulness. Google says Gemini AI will assist Kids with learning, creativity, and homework. Similar to its Workplace for Education accounts, Google also states that children's data will not be utilized for AI training.
The Google Family Link is an associate parents-and-kids (PaK) account that allows parents to oversee their children’s device usage, set limits, and protect them from harmful content. Kids under 13 years will only have access to the Gemini AI under a Google Family Link account.
Furthermore, parents can disable access using Google Family Link and will receive a separate alert when their child first uses Gemini. In conclusion, Google's initiative to make Gemini AI available to children under 13 is another bold step toward a tech giant integrating AI into early education and creativity.
Meanwhile, it comes with complexities, including the need for robust parental guidance and ongoing evaluation of safety measures. Well, parents are advised to leverage the provided resources, such as YouTube videos on generative AI, to educate themselves and their children.
