Conversations about young people and technology tend to centre around social media.

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However, in the education sector (where I work when I’m not behind the mic at LBC), we’re generally more concerned about AI and, in particular, the impact chatbots like ChatGPT might be having on young people’s mental health.

Contrary to much of the news coverage, which centres on how easy this type of technology makes it for children to cheat on their homework, our main concern is that some young people, particularly if they are neurodivergent, are developing an emotional attachment to chatbots. Generative AI is programmed to be sycophantic, to speak in a human voice which mimics empathy. For people who are isolated or in distress, they can be easy to mistake for the human interaction they need.

There is abundant evidence to support these fears: Research by the Youth Empowerment Fund shows one in four teenagers are using AI chatbots for mental health advice and support. A poll commissioned by Vodafone found 31 per cent of young users would describe chatbots as a ‘friend’. Earlier this year, mental health........

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