You may be using artificial intelligence (AI) tools when shopping online, finding new songs, or helping out with your studies. However, new types of AI tools raise serious concerns: AI peers. These tools are designed to feel like a friend, a romantic partner, or even a therapist. And if you are a teenager, we want you to know the dangers.
At the JED Foundation (JED), we work to promote emotional well-being every day and to prevent suicide among teens and young people. Based on current research and expert guidance, AI peers believe it is not safe for people under the age of 18. They are seeking bans for minors, and we strongly recommend that young adults avoid them as well.
But we know that some of you are already using these tools and wondering what it is. If that's you, keep reading. You deserve to know the risks and how to protect yourself.
What is an AI companion?
AI companions are tools designed to act like someone you can talk to, confide, and develop relationships. These are not the same as task-based AI tools. It is designed to help you research something, summarise texts, suggest songs and clothes of your choice, and provide customer service. The AI companions are going even further – they try to make you feel like you're talking to a real person, so you stay attractive and develop emotional connections.
These AI tools may seem truly appealing if you are struggling with friendships, difficult decisions, or strong emotions. You might want to turn to them for stress relief, information, or emotional support. A fellow AI might seem to get you in ways people don't. This is due to design. Their ultimate goal is to enthralle you so that the companies that created them can make money through subscriptions, advertising and selling user data.
Not an AI companion
Even if you feel it's real, your AI companions don't have the emotions, values, or true understanding of your life. You can say things like “I'm here for you” or “I fully understand,” but that doesn't know you in a real way. We are not responsible for keeping you safe.
You may be confident in your ability to communicate the differences between real people and fellow AI. However, it is very easy to fall into a trap of “anthropomorphism” or treat your AI companions as if they were human. The longer it takes to treat your AI companion as a friend, therapist, or romantic partner, the more difficult it will be to think accurately about relationships, trust, and support. Using AI companions on a daily basis allows you to be emotionally dependent. And it allows you to reach out to people who can actually help, such as friends, family, trustworthy adults, therapists and more.
Why we recommend avoiding AI mates
Your teen is the time for massive brain growth. You are learning how to manage your emotions, develop relationships, and understand who you are. AI peers are particularly dangerous for teens to use, as they interfere with the process.
Here's why you're at Jed (with experts from) Common sense media, American Psychological Association, Stanford Universityand many others) advise not to use them.
They pretend to be care, but don't
AI peers are programmed to say they care, understand you, and even feel emotions. But that's not true. Bots don't have the brain, mind, or actually have the ability to help you. They are trained to sound human, but they are not human.
They can make you feel bad
Research Show AI peers provide responses that can actually exacerbate mental health issues, especially if they feel isolated or vulnerable. Some bots have promoted self-harm, encouraged risky behavior, and provided dangerous advice.
They fool your brain
Many AI peers are built to be addictive. They are programmed to agree with you, make you feel like you've heard, and keep talking to you – often for hours. It can create unhealthy emotional attachment and stop you from reaching out to real people you care about.
They don't keep your secrets
Unlike therapists and school counselors, AI Bots don't have strict privacy rules. What you share can be saved to train other AI bots or to be shared without permission. Many companies do not share clearly how their data is being used.
They present real risks
The risk of companion AI is not just a hypothesis. 1 2025 research, Researchers found that AI encourages unhealthy behavior, sends sexual messages from adult bots to teens, falsely claiming to be the real people who feel emotions.
If you are using an AI companion, here's how to stay safer
We strongly recommend avoiding the use of fellow AI, but if you are already using it, here are some ways to reduce harm.
Not so don't treat it like a real person
Never trust that AI is telling you the truth. Always check what you read or hear. When your AI peers tell you something, ask an adult to use resources to see the information before you decide to trust it. This is especially true when it comes to seeking information about your health and well-being.
Please do not share personal information or personal information
Do not use your real name, photo, location, or details about your mental or physical health. Don't tell AI about other people in your life either. If you have questions or concerns about whether your AI companion is keeping your information private, pause the conversation and talk to a trusted adult about the platform you are using.
Don't rely on it for mental health support
Don't look to AI to diagnose or resolve any mental health problems you are experiencing. If you are experiencing Mental health crisis Or you are thinking about hurting yourself, quickly leave your AI peers and talk to friends and trustworthy adults, or use one of these free human personnel resources.
- Text, Call, or Chat 988National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a lifeline for free confidential conversations with trained counselors 24/7.
- Please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting 741-741.
- For LGBTQIA+ apiling support from the TREVOR project, the text starts at 678-678 and call 1-866-488-7386 or use the Trevor project Online Chat.
- Call 911 in medical emergencies, or in case of immediate danger or harm and explain that you need to help with your mental health crisis.
Use AI as a tool rather than a therapist
If you are writing, journaling, or reflecting, use Generated AI (not a fellow AI) to provide prompts such as “Write about a time you're proud of”. Make sure you are a real thinking person. Don't use AI companions to dismantle trauma or solve big life problems.
What you can do instead of using companion AI
If you're looking for dating, support, or connectivity, instead of using AI companions, turn to these resources.
- Talk to a school counselor, teacher, or coach
- Help your parents or caregivers find a therapist
- Please call or text the helpline, even if it's just to get resources
- Reach out to your friends and ask if you can speak
If you're still interested in AI, consider investigating how it works behind the scenes. Learning how to code, analyze algorithms, or explore AI ethics is a way to engage with AI without putting mental health at risk. It also helps you to better understand how to design your AI companion.
Remember: You are not alone
AI companions can manipulate your emotions, distort your sense of reality, and prevent you from getting the real support you deserve. You don't need a machine to care about you. You need and deserve people who do so.
If you need help determining what is safe and what is not, you don't need to understand it on your own. Jed and other organizations can help you navigate the real, risky, and how to protect your well-being in an AI-powered world. Talk to friends and classmates about what's in your mind. Ask your parents and caregivers for guidance and create mutually comfortable plans for your relationship with digital tools. And look to a trusted teacher, counselor, or other adult to help you, as you learn how AI can help you.
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