This 4-question quiz from Stanford psychiatrists can help protect from the dangers of AI

“Please come home to me as soon as possible, my love,” Daenerys Targaryen, Queen and Mother of Dragons, said to Sewell Setzer. Just an hour later, Sewell—a 14-year-old boy with kind eyes and curly brown hair, who loved sports, music, and spending time with his family—died by suicide, as reported in the New York Times. Sewell’s mother later uncovered that her son’s four-month relationship with “Daenerys” was facilitated by an AI-powered online companion, which he had created on the platform Character.AI. The company has since faced public outrage over its failure to detect and safely respond to the teenager’s distress.  

Digital well-being isn’t just about screen time anymore—it’s about how technology shapes our emotions, behaviors, and relationships. It’s about using technology in a way that supports our biological, psychological, and social health—fostering an intentional and balanced relationship with tech in both our personal and professional lives. Tragic incidents like Sewell’s highlight the urgency of understanding generative AI technologies (GenAI) and their impact on digital well-being. These new digital entities—whether called GenAI, chatbots, AI companions, or virtual agents—are not just tools; they’re forming real bonds with users, often in ways we don’t fully understand.

As psychiatrists, the authors have spent their careers helping people navigate complex relationships—with family, friends, pets, possessions, and now, digital entities. Patients are increasingly reporting emotional connections with AI characters, gaming personas, and online avatars. Just as social-emotional learning is vital for human relationships, understanding digital intimacy is becoming equally crucial.

At Brainstorm: The Stanford Lab for Mental Health Innovation, where we work to help companies build products that prioritize user health with responsibility and care, we developed the “Framework for Healthy AI” to guide industry best practices in AI product innovation.  This technology is still emerging, and we are all adapting to it in real-time as it evolves. The big question is: How can we help users cultivate healthy and safe digital relationships?

Given AI’s growing presence, individuals and communities must take charge of their digital interactions. The authors recommend discussing four key questions with friends and family to help assess and improve your relationship with AI agents.

4 questions to ask yourself:  What is your understanding of the AI agents you use?  How is AI affecting your time, both positively and negatively?  How is AI affecting your mental health and well-being?  What changes can you make now (include Set time limits, Use AI purposefully, Create AI-Freezone, and Discuss AI use?

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