Zak Stein is a researcher focused on child development, education, and existential risk. He joins the podcast to discuss the psychological harms of anthropomorphic AI. We examine attention and attachment hacking, AI companions for kids, loneliness, and cognitive atrophy. Our conversation also covers how we can preserve human relationships, redesign education, and build cognitive security tools that keep AI from undermining our humanity.
LINKS:
- AI Psychological Harms Research Coalition: https://aiphrc.org/
- Zak Stein official website: https://www.zakstein.org/
Seems like AI regulation is becoming more necessary by the minute.
Ban it in schools. Ban it for children. We’re letting billionaires destroy a whole generation of children.
Removing AI LLM slop from schools is absolutely the first step, and would be impactful at that. These kids are being forced onto AI through their schools. If we win this battle, one day we’ll look back at these “historical figure” chatbots the same way we think of candy cigarettes.
I want to iterate that school curriculum is incredibly controllable at the local level. Check your school board. Rally for a No AI policy in lessons, and perhaps in teaching materials. This at least is one step we can take.