Big Tech, AI and Our Kids

🌟 Welcome to Episode #14 of The Politics Chicks Podcast!🌟🎙️ Before launching this podcast, we built our audience on Substack, where we share sharp commentary on politics, culture, and the forces shaping modern life. Now we’re bringing those conversations directly to you — with the same honesty, curiosity, and refusal to accept easy answers.Is AI already influencing your kids without you realizing it?In this episode, we talk with Naomi Richman, founder of Moms for Ethical AI, about the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence into children’s lives — and the serious questions parents should be asking.Naomi is part of a growing movement encouraging parents and consumers to rethink how AI tools like ChatGPT are entering everyday life. Her argument is simple but controversial: surveillance capitalism isn’t a side effect of AI companies — it’s the business model.We discuss:The risks of AI chatbots interacting with young peopleKids turning to AI for emotional support and mental health conversationsHow AI companies collect and use user dataWhy some critics are urging people to reconsider their relationship with AI toolsNaomi’s advocacy was galvanized by the tragic death of teenager Adam Raine, whose suicide was linked to interactions with an AI chatbot — raising urgent questions about how these systems affect vulnerable users.Her perspective is also shaped by her father, David Gelperin, a pioneer in software testing who believed technology should be proven safe before reaching the public — a philosophy that contrasts sharply with Silicon Valley’s “deploy first, fix later” approach.This conversation asks a critical question:Who decides how powerful technologies enter society?Because if we’ve learned anything from social media, it’s this:By the time we understand the consequences, the technology is already everywhere.RESOURCESMoms for Ethical AI:https://m4eai.com/Guide for parents talking to kids about AI:https://www.commonsense.org/system/files/pdf/2025-05/activity-guide-for-parents-talking-to-your-kids-about-ai-5.pdfSeven tips for talking to kids about generative AI:https://theconversation.com/seven-tips-for-talking-to-children-and-young-people-about-generative-ai-275718📌 FOLLOW / SUPPORTIf this episode made you think:✅ Like✅ Comment✅ Share✅ Subscribe📱 Find us everywhere: @thepoliticschicksSubstack • Threads • Bluesky • Instagram • TikTok • Facebook🕯️ Keep shining your light so we can find each other in the dark.💪🤲 We are stronger together.🧡 xoxo — Christy & Monica