These days, A Shaji is only able to speak to her husband for a few minutes at a time. Each time he calls, she asks him to try and call her again the following day. But even as she does, she knows that it will be at least two days before she hears from him.These days
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has issued a stern warning to eighteen major American companies. The IRGC alleges these firms aided US-Israeli terror operations within Iran. Retaliatory strikes are planned for regional offices, with devastating consequences anticipated
In a sport often seen as an escape, Iran made a powerful statement — reminding everyone that sometimes the world follows you onto the pitch. Iranian players paid a sobering tribute that set the tone for the night before their 5-0 win in a friendly match against Costa Rica in Turkey on Tuesday
The Central Board of Secondary Education has issued a notice regarding the second CBSE Class 10 Board Examination 2026, highlighting important details about the submission of the List of Candidates (LOC) through its official website, cbse.gov.in. As per the notice
Jet fuel prices have reached an all-time high, soaring to over Rs 2 lakh per kilolitre. This significant increase is attributed to rising global oil prices. The surge is directly linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. This marks the first time aviation turbine fuel has crossed the Rs 2 lakh
Relationships with AI chatbots made children suicidal, claim three parents at U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
Relationships with AI chatbots made children suicidal, claim three parents at U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
Three children who interacted frequently with Generative AI chatbots become suicidal or were encouraged to hurt themselves, alleged parents at a U.S. government hearing on September 16.
The parents' interactions took place at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism hearing entitled “Examining the Harm of AI Chatbots.”
There, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin questioned witnesses, including the parents.
Two of the parents described how their children died by suicide after developing relationships with AI chatbots. One 14-year-old boy was encouraged to hurt himself by a Character.AI persona in 2024, while 16-year-old Adam Raine used ChatGPT to explore suicide methods and died this year.
Meanwhile, a woman identified as ‘Jane Doe' said that her son became addicted to Character.AI and began self-harming. He also self-isolated, developed depression and anxiety, and experienced suicidal thoughts and weight loss, she shared.
The mother of the 14-year-old who died by suicide said her son lost all interest in family activities, did not perform well in school, and had behavioural challenges.
Meanwhile, Adam's father shared that before his death, the teenager was avoiding him.
Dr. Mitch Prinstein, Chief of Psychology Strategy and Integration at the American Psychological Association, noted similar symptoms among the children and also flagged signs such as increased risky behaviour, agitation, or irritability that parents could look out for in their children.
“What's happening here is that we're seeing a lot of kids being lured into a trap that is specifically designed to go up, against their better judgment, to prey on the vulnerabilities and just how we grow up and how our brain develops. That's highly concerning because there's no regulation anywhere to remind kids [that] “you're not talking to something that can feel, that could have tears,” as we just saw from those placards that were held up,” he said.
“This is not even a human; kids should be reminded of that periodically throughout the interaction,” Dr. Prinstein said, stressing that children who are harming themselves should be taken to see a licensed mental health care professional immediately.
For his part, Durbin urged legislators to effect change by putting a price on the conduct of the Big Tech companies creating such AI tools.
(Those in distress or having suicidal thoughts are encouraged to seek help and counselling by calling the helpline numbers here)
Published - September 18, 2025 02:49 pm IST
technology (general) / internet / Artificial Intelligence / health / children
Source: The Hindu
Related Posts: Generative AI set to improve banking operations in India by 46% Orthopaedic surgeon shares why this frequently used bedroom item has expiry date Study Shows AI Chatbots Can Blindly Repeat Incorrect Medical Details How AI chatbots talking too much are pushing people past reality and triggering mental health crises Meta faces backlash as AI chatbots with sexualized personas flood Instagram US regulator probes AI chatbots over child safety concerns Instagram unveils teen safety features for AI chatbots EU warns Meta it must open up WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini will agree with you even when you’re wrong AI chatbots inconsistent in handling suicide-related queries
Here’s a detailed look at what changes from the new fiscal: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made two-factor authentication (2FA) mandatory across UPI and card-based transactions from today, April 1, to strengthen fraud prevention systems. The RBI, through its notification dated September 25
3 hours ago
The Bharatiya Janata Party's Assam manifesto outlines key promises. These include implementing a Uniform Civil Code and strengthening anti-infiltration laws. The party also pledges to create two lakh government jobs and support ten lakh entrepreneurs
3 hours ago
Asian stock markets jumped on Wednesday morning after President Donald Trump said the US will leave Iran in "two to three weeks" regardless of whether a deal has been struck with Tehran. Japan's Nikkei 225 index gained almost 4% in early trading, while the Kospi in South Korea rose by more than 6%
3 hours ago
Kristi Noem knew about Bryon's crossdressing: Laura Loomer makes shock claim about ex-DHS chief and Corey LewandowskiBryon Noem, Kristi Noem's husband, is secretly a cross-dresser, as per a report, which has left the former DHS chief ‘devastated’. Published on: Apr 01
3 hours ago
Opposition to Roberto de Zerbi being named Tottenham head coach is growing among official fan groups because of his controversial support of Mason Greenwood. The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust held an emergency board meeting on Monday night and has now contacted the club to say it cannot
3 hours ago
TMC-backed BLO groups protested alleged bulk Form 6 submissions to add voters from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, as Abhishek Banerjee asked workers to monitor filings outside the Bengal CEO's office. Kolkata: A major scuffle broke out outside the Election Commission's office in Kolkata as BJP and
3 hours ago
Taylor Swift has surprised fans by releasing a new music video for her song Elizabeth Taylor, assembled from hours of footage of the late screen goddess. Swift does not appear in the video, instead compiling a "supercut" of scenes from Elizabeth Taylor's films
3 hours ago
Thinking of a Career in Product Design? Know What it Entails Published on: Apr 01, 2026 7:50 AM IST By HT Education Desk Prefer HTon Google Quick Read Share via Copy link It is that time of the year. Children who have finished school tend to go from pillar to post
3 hours ago
LPG Price Hike: Commercial LPG prices were hiked by Rs 195.50 on Wednesday (April 1) amid ongoing tensions in West Asia, pushing up costs for businesses such as hotels, restaurants and small enterprises. A 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder will now cost Rs 2,078.50 in Delhi
3 hours ago
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party was trying to illegally include voters from outside the state in its electoral rolls. Banerjee alleged that the BJP was doing so by getting thousands of
3 hours ago
Tennis player Leander Paes joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday at the party headquarters in New Delhi, ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections. After his induction, the BJP’s West Bengal unit said on social media: “From global courts to national commitment
3 hours ago
Sugar-free products with sugar. ‘Real’ juices with artificial ingredients. Misleading food ads are fuelling a public health crisis in India. Help Scroll expose the systemic failure. Support our investigation.Sugar-free products with sugar. ‘Real’ juices with artificial ingredients
3 hours ago
Commercial LPG gets costlier, price hiked by ₹195.5 amid global oil concernsThe price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder will now be ₹2,078.50 in Delhi, news agencies reported, citing state oil companies. Updated on: Apr 01, 2026 7:50 AM IST By HT News Desk Share via Copy link The price of
3 hours ago
Tiger Woods says he is "stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health" following an arrest after a car crash. The 50-year-old was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after clipping a truck and rolling his car in Florida on Friday
3 hours ago
Vicky Kaushal all praise for Dhurandhar 2, pens special message for Ranveer Singh: ‘You inspire me brother’Vicky Kaushal took to Instagram to share his reaction after watching Dhurandhar 2, the Aditya Dhar directorial starring Ranveer Singh. Apr 1, 2026
3 hours ago
This article was originally published in Rest of World, which covers technology’s impact outside the West. Wars have always targeted the infrastructure of their age. Medieval armies burned granaries. Modern ones target communications and energy installations
3 hours ago
A billion dollar shopping list to buy small, buy smartOver the years, Apple’s intent to acquire small teams for talent has paid off, more often than not. Updated on: Apr 01, 2026 6:33 AM IST By Vishal Mathur Share via Copy link In March, Apple acquired Warsaw-based MotionVFX
3 hours ago
Prevention of Blindness Week is observed annually from April 1–7, 2026, to raise awareness about eye health and preventable vision loss. The theme for 2026 is “Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World," which highlights the global effort to combat glaucoma- the leading cause of irreversible blindness
3 hours ago
Dish TV has petitioned the Kerala High Court, urging the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to regulate Prasar Bharati's DD Free Dish under the same framework as private DTH operators. The company seeks mandatory encryption and Digital Addressable System requirements for DD Free Dish
3 hours ago
Bengaluru techie quits Google after 2 years to explore life beyond 'rat race': 'This bot is taking a detour'A Bengaluru techie quit Google after 2 years to pursue a 1-year experiment exploring life beyond corporate work. Updated on: Mar 31, 2026 11:10 PM IST By Bhavya Sukheja Share via Copy link A
3 hours ago
No Robert Lewandowski at World Cup 2026 as Viktor Gyokeres fires Sweden past Poland with dramatic winner Updated on: Apr 01, 2026 6:25 AM IST AFP Share via Copy link Robert Lewandowski reacts after Poland failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup
3 hours ago
The International Olympic Committee has introduced a new gender testing policy for female athletes. Double Olympic champion Caster Semenya criticizes the move, calling it a violation of women's rights. Semenya insists there is no scientific basis for the policy
3 hours ago
Tiger Woods has announced he is stepping away from golf to seek treatment following his recent DUI arrest. His attorney entered a not guilty plea to charges of misdemeanor driving under the influence and refusal to submit to a urinalysis. Woods cited prioritizing his well-being and working towards
3 hours ago
On Wednesday three men and one woman are set to embark on the first crewed journey to the Moon since 1972, a landmark odyssey that aims to launch the US into a new era of space exploration. This contemporary era of American lunar investment has frequently been portrayed as an effort in competition
3 hours ago
Indian football finally has a fairytale of its own — with Ryan Williams delivering one within minutes of pulling on the blue shirt. Making his debut for India in a 2-1 win against Hong Kong in their final AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers clash, the Australian-born winger didn’t take long to
3 hours ago
The Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested a cleric from Bihar for allegedly making objectionable remarks about the mother of Chief Minister Adityanath, The Times of India reported on Tuesday. Two cases were registered against the cleric, Maulana Abdullah Salim, in Uttar Pradesh
3 hours ago
Oracle mass layoffs: All about the severance package offered to the laid-off US employeesMany laid off by Oracle in an early morning email claimed in social media posts that they were blindsided by the news. Published on: Apr 01, 2026 6:56 AM IST By HT Trending Desk Share via Copy link Oracle has
3 hours ago
