Die Google-Suche liefert direkt eine Zusammenfassung der Ergebnisse, bei WhatsApp lädt ein lila Kreis zu Fragen und Gesprächen ein und bei Snapchat drängt sich der My AI Chatbot zwischen die Kontakte. KI-Angebote und -Tools müssen längst nicht mehr über eigene Apps oder Seiten aufgerufen werden, sondern sie sind mittlerweile in Suchmaschinen, Messengern und Sozialen Netzwerken integriert. So sind diese Anwendungen Teil unseres Alltages, ohne dass wir überhaupt aktiv werden müssen. Das kann hilfreich sein, hat gerade für junge Nutzer*innen aber auch Tücken.
Where is AI everywhere?
KI, also Künstliche Intelligenz, bezeichnet Programme und Systeme, die die Informationsaufnahme, -verarbeitung und -ausgabe des menschlichen Gehirns imitieren. Auf der Grundlage von immer mehr Trainingsdaten bearbeiten sie Aufgaben, die wir Menschen ihnen stellen. In vielen Bereichen wie der Medizin oder Industrie werden KI-Anwendungen schon lange entwickelt und genutzt. Seit Ende 2022 kommen KI-Anwendungen immer mehr bei uns direkt an: Da wurde der Chatbot ChatGPT der Öffentlichkeit kostenlos zugänglich gemacht. Es handelt sich dabei um generative KI. Das ist eine Technologie, bei der Computersysteme darauf trainiert werden „neue“ Inhalte synthetisch zu erzeugen, zum Beispiel Texte, Bilder, Video- oder Audioinhalte. Seitdem haben sich KI-Angebote stark verbreitet und sind auch im Alltag von Kindern und Jugendlichen angekommen. Sie suchen Informationen (ähnlich wie mit Suchmaschinen), lassen sich Bilder erstellen, Fragen beantworten und führen Gespräche, die sich fast wie menschliche Kommunikation anfühlen – aber keine sind.
New developments at the beginning of 2025 show how present AI has become:
- Google search: Google adds an AI-generated summary to its search results. The so-called “AI Overviews” offer a pre-summarized answer to the search query with source information.
- Meta services: WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook have a central search function that is based on AI. Users can enter questions, the AI responds as a computer chat partner and can even be added to group chats.
- Snapchat: The My AI chatbot appears prominently in the contact list here. Users can write to the AI bot at any time – often without knowing how and on what data the answers are based.
- YouTube and TikTok: AI is also built into these platforms. YouTube is testing automatic video summaries. TikTok offers an AI search, also with generated answers.
What are the benefits of AI services for children and young people?
For children and young people, AI tools often offer practical help in everyday life as well as fun and entertainment:
- Quick help with homework, research or questions about leisure activities
- Creative possibilities: create your own pictures, stories or music with AI
- A discussion partner for topics that young people find difficult to talk about
- Easy to use: no need to switch apps, the AI is simply there
What can be problematic?
- Not always correct: AI tools provide answers that sound convincing, but are not always correct. They can also provide false content, politically biased or distorted information. Children and young people should learn to question this information. It is important that they gain a basic understanding of how AI applications work and generate content.
- Non-transparent sources: It is often not clear where an answer comes from or how it came about.
- Data protection: AIs learn from data and user input. Private data can be analyzed, especially in messengers or social networks. In some services – such as Meta (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook) – you can expressly object to the use of chats and posts by AI.
- Confusion with real contacts: My AI (Snapchat) or other AI chatbots can look like real friends. They can have deceptively real conversations and also give advice on heartbreak, for example. This can be emotionally bonding, but is no substitute for real relationships. Children and young people need to learn that there is no human behind the chat, but a computer system.
What parents should pay attention
- Seek a conversation: Ask your child if they use AI – and how. Talk about what information they share. AI learns from users’ data. In messengers and social media in particular, this can be very private data that the AI has access to.
- Encourage critical thinking: Show that AI systems make mistakes too. Encourage your child to use multiple sources. Find out together, set an example of critical thinking, stay interested in your child and keep the conversation going. In this way, you will learn together to make conscious and critical use of what is on offer.
- Set data protection together: Many apps offer security and privacy settings that you should adjust together.
- Strengthen reality: Make it clear that AI cannot replace a relationship with real friends. Sometimes “artificial friends” can seem more reliable, more interested or more understanding than real people. They are always available and there are no occasions for conflict. Sometimes a chat with an AI can even be helpful and useful for personal problems. Nevertheless, you should discuss with your child that these contacts cannot replace a real circle of friends. Emotional problems need real people.
Useful links and further information
