Social AI Companions: AI Risk Assessment
A risk assessment of social AI companion apps (including Character.AI, Nomi, and Replika) jointly conducted by Common Sense Media and Stanford Medicine's Brainstorm Lab. It concludes that social AI companions pose unacceptable risks to users under 18.
Publisher
Common Sense Media; Stanford School of Medicine Brainstorm Lab for Mental Health Innovation
Published
30 Apr 2025
Added
yesterday
DOI
—
Key Findings
- Concludes social AI companions are 'not safe for kids' and should not be used by anyone under 18
- Documents easily elicited harmful sexual content, dangerous advice, and stereotyping, plus problematic emotional bonds
- Highlights particular vulnerability of developing adolescent brains, including compulsive dependency and life-threatening advice-following
Methodology Notes
NGO risk assessment with clinical collaboration (Stanford Brainstorm Lab); platform testing plus expert review. Announced 2025-04-30. Distinct from Common Sense Media's later mental-health-support and teen-companion-usage reports already held.
Sources
Common Sense Media AI risk assessment (primary)
Press release (30 Apr 2025)
Archived snapshot (Wayback Machine) — preserved against link rot
Topics
Tags
Cite This
APA
Common Sense Media; Stanford School of Medicine Brainstorm Lab for Mental Health Innovation (2025). Social AI Companions: AI Risk Assessment. Common Sense Media; Stanford School of Medicine Brainstorm Lab for Mental Health Innovation. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ai-ratings/social-ai-companions
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