Prereading Quiz: Is This REALLY Your Friend?
Before you read “Is This REALLY Your Friend?,” take this five-question quiz to find out how much you already know.
True or false: An AI companion is a computer program that talks and acts like a close friend.
AI companions are powered by technology that helps machines do human things like understand language.
What is one way that an AI companion is different from a human friend?
An AI companion is programmed to always be agreeable to keep a user interacting with it. In contrast, human friends do not always see eye to eye—but experts say that is a good thing.
According to a recent study by Common Sense Media, what percentage of teens who use AI companions say they do not trust information and advice from the chatbots?
When asked if they trust information and advice from AI companions, 50 percent of teen users said “not at all,” 27 percent said “somewhat,” and 23 percent said “completely.”
What is a concern that some experts have about teens using AI companions?
The teenage brain is still developing, experts say, so teens may have a hard time judging whether something is trustworthy, and they may be more likely to develop an unhealthy attachment to AI companions.
True or false: Anything you tell an AI companion stays a secret between you and the AI companion.
Most of the information users share with AI companions, including private thoughts, becomes the property of AI companion platforms.