Traditionally, teenagers turn to each other when it comes to seeking advice, flirting and sharing deep conversations. But nearly three quarters of U.S. teenagers have used an AI tool at least once for activities like these, according to a new study. Conversational AI systems such as CHAI, Character.AI, Nomi and Replika present enticing opportunities for teens to role-play, seek support …
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Nearly three in four American teenagers have used AI companions, with more than half qualifying as regular users despite growing safety concerns about these virtual relationships, according to a new survey released Wednesday. AI companions – chatbots designed for personal conversations rather than simple task completion – are available on platforms like Character.AI, Replika, and Nomi. Unlike traditional artificial intelligence …
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Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! In case you missed my announcement last week, TechCrunch Mobility is moving to the Beehiiv publishing platform. The launch is scheduled for July 18. Beehiiv provides lots of cool features to help me …
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Up to 3 in every 1,000 newborns has hearing loss in one or both ears. While cochlear implants offer remarkable hope for these children, it requires invasive surgery. These implants also cannot fully replicate the nuance of natural hearing. But recent research my colleagues and I conducted has shown that a form of gene therapy can successfully restore hearing in …
Read More »A new federal estimate shows a rise in prediabetes among American adolescents, a finding that is spurring concerns about the health of U.S. children — and the way Trump administration health officials are conducting research and communicating information, experts said. In 2023, nearly 1 in 3 U.S. youngsters ages 12 to 17 had prediabetes, according to recently released data from …
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