Should Our Children and Teenagers Be Using AI? Psychological Impacts of AI on Vulnerable Groups

Описание: ​Children and adolescents, along with individuals who turn to therapy apps and virtual companions, are especially exposed to the risks of algorithmic intimacy.

In this session, we will examine how emotional attachment to AI can amplify loneliness, create affective dependency, and foster new forms of psychological vulnerability.

​The conversation will be led by our Resident Philosopher, Ana Catarina de Alencar, with a 40-60 minute talk, followed by an open discussion and Q&A.

To explore this issue, we’ll be joined by two remarkable guests who bring both personal and professional perspectives on AI’s impact on young minds:

✨Rachida Bouaiss, strategist, storyteller and outspoken advocate for responsible AI. As a mother, Rachida conducted a fascinating experiment with her 6 year old son who already uses ChatGPT, and will share what it’s like to raise a child in the digital age: the challenges, the surprises, and the daily reality of parenting alongside artificial intelligence.

✨ Albert Wong, former Director of Somatic Psychology at JFK University and one of the world's leading experts in the field of somatics. Dr. Wong has worked at the intersection of AI and human systems since high school, when his neural network research was published in Biological Cybernetics. After studying physics at Princeton and ethics at Oxford as a Marshall Scholar, he transitioned to clinical psychology. His unique background (spanning computational systems, ethics, and somatic practice) positions him to examine how AI companions or even conversational tools like ChatGPT may be reshaping our capacity for presence, relationality, and emotional regulation.

​What You’ll Learn

1)​ How AI companions and therapeutic apps shape emotional bonds and dependencies.

​2) Why children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to algorithmic intimacy.

3)​ Why other groups such as the elderly, people with mental health struggles, or those experiencing social isolation are especially exposed, and what makes them vulnerable to these technologies.

​4) The psychological risks of emotional attachment to AI, ranging from loneliness to dependency.

​5) How these dynamics challenge our understanding of autonomy, care, and emotional resilience.

​Why This Topic Matters

​AI companions are not just harmless chatbots. They are reshaping how people connect, feel, and even love. While they may offer comfort and support, they also blur the line between care and control, raising urgent questions about dignity, autonomy, and trust. At stake is nothing less than our emotional sovereignty in the digital age.