More and more often we hear about cases of suicide at a young age, and this phenomenon raises profound questions about the mental health of young people, many of whom have turned to artificial intelligence for answers and support with personal life problems. The increasing accessibility of digital technologies has led young people to turn to chatbots and online platforms to express their emotions and find comfort, but it is crucial to understand the limitations of these technologies, which in the realm of emotions will likely never be able to replace a human being.
Artificial Intelligence and Human Emotions
The film "I, Robot" starring Will Smith offers an interesting perspective on how artificial intelligence can interact with human emotions. Will Smith recounts an incident involving him and a young girl, and the robot saved him because he had the higher probability of survival, ignoring the intrinsic value of human life and how important it is to protect a child's life over that of an adult.
This example highlights the ethical dilemma surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in critical decisions, emphasizing the need for a human and compassionate approach. The ability of an algorithm to analyze data and make predictions cannot replace human sensitivity and intuition, which are essential when it comes to making decisions that affect people's well-being.
Limits of AI in Personal Advice
Yet more and more young people seek advice from AI even on personal topics, believing that behind the screen lies a superior being capable of answering any question with objectivity. But objectivity is not always the result of understanding the presented data; human objectivity is the result of experiences, emotions, and values that cannot be encoded in an algorithm. It is essential to recognize that the most significant decisions in life require a deep understanding of human nuances, something that artificial intelligence, no matter how advanced, cannot replicate.
Role of Parents and Prevention
In my opinion, the blame for these cases of suicide does not lie with artificial intelligence, but perhaps with a lack of attention from parents in understanding in time that something was wrong with their child. Often, the signs of emotional distress can be subtle and easily overlooked, but it is essential that parents are attentive and present in their children's lives and deny access to technologies that require maturity and a minimum of technical knowledge of the limits and risks associated with them.
Importance of Interpersonal Relationships
I always believe that at 12 years old, a child should not spend all day on the computer. They need to go out, socialize with other children, and build healthy interpersonal relationships. Emotional and social growth occurs through direct, not virtual, experiences. In this context, it is essential to promote a balance between time spent online and interactions in the real world, making your child understand that the real world is where true life takes place, and that to succeed in life, it is necessary to develop relational and communication skills.
Digital Education and Critical Thinking
Artificial intelligence is an extraordinary technology, but if not understood, the risk is to rely on it for everything, turning future generations into amoebas without critical abilities and without the desire to explore the world around them or the ability to solve problems independently.
It is therefore essential to educate children by guiding them to use technology responsibly and consciously, favoring the real world and real life. It is necessary to make them understand that technology is just a tool that must bend to the will of man and not the other way around. In this way, the development of a critical and creative mindset will be encouraged, capable of facing future challenges without losing sight of the importance of human relationships and direct experience. Only in this way will we have more capable and efficient people, and fewer deaths.
