Is AI safe for a 7-year-old?

With a guided, age-appropriate tool and an adult nearby, yes — and it's a good age to start, because the habits form easily. With an open, general-purpose chatbot, no. Those are built for adults and most set a minimum age of 13 in their own terms of service.

Should I just ban AI until they're older?

It's an understandable instinct and it usually backfires. A ban doesn't prevent the encounter, it just moves it somewhere you're not. The stronger position is early, guided use with clear habits — so that by the time they have unsupervised access, the habits are already theirs.

How do I know if my child is becoming dependent on it?

Ask them to explain what they produced. A child who can walk you through their reasoning is using the tool. A child who can only show you the output isn't. Also watch whether they try things before asking — the first move tells you a lot.

What about my child's privacy?

Assume anything typed into a chat box is stored. Teach the rule directly — no real name, school, address, or photos — and prefer tools where you can see and delete your child's data. In the US, services directed at under-13s must get verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information.

Is it cheating if AI helps with homework?

It depends on what the homework was for. Using AI to explain a concept you then apply yourself is closer to a tutor. Having it produce the finished answer is closer to copying. The test that works at home: could your child defend this to their teacher, out loud, without the screen?

AI 对孩子安全吗？真正重要的 4 个风险 | 路奇 Luchi

AI 对孩子安全吗？这其实是四个问题，不是一个：不当内容、隐私、依赖，以及一本正经地说错。哪一个对你家孩子这个年龄最要紧，以及各自怎么解决。

加入名单

本系列推荐继续阅读

ChatGPT 对孩子安全吗？ — 按年龄给出的直接答案：真正会遇到的风险，以及让孩子使用 AI 时保持安全的五个习惯。
屏幕时间与 AI — 并非所有屏幕时间都一样。主动、创造性地使用 AI 与被动刷屏有何不同——以及如何让孩子站在正确的一边。
孩子在 AI 上到底在干什么？ — 没法逐条翻聊天记录。四个一分钟内就能做完的检查、每个检查能告诉你什么，以及十岁孩子真会回答的那个问题。
家长真正看得见的孩子 AI 应用 — 提醒、聊天记录、学习档案——三件完全不同的事被同一个词卖给家长。七款产品各自声称让家长看到什么，均引自其官网。