PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. — Artificial intelligence chatbots continue to take a more prominent place in the lives of many Americans. While the technology offers many benefits, a new report is highlighting a concerning trend: more teens are seeking mental health advice from AI.

It’s an emerging technology that is becoming increasingly popular. AI chatbots can help with certain tasks, but they also come with concerns.

“The new models are very powerful. The problem with that is that it increases the risk,” said Dr. William Leever, a pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Leever said newer AI chatbots are more unpredictable and more engaging than past models.

A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that about one in five people in the United States between the ages of 12 and 21 reported using AI chatbots for mental health advice.

Among those who sought advice from AI chatbots, nearly 43% did so at least monthly, and about 92% said the advice was somewhat or very helpful.

“It feels like they’re being supported. It feels like they’re being understood because these models are very good at mimicking human empathy,” Leever said. “But in reality, they’re just pattern recognition robots.”

Leever said artificial intelligence can be harmful when it replaces real help and human connection.

He said parents and caregivers need to talk openly about mental health and practice what he calls “co-prompting,” where they work through AI interactions alongside their teens to help interpret and verify the information.

He also said it’s important to set boundaries.

“You can let them use the AI with the direct guidance and supervision they need to actually understand what they’re dealing with,” Leever said.

The warning comes at a critical time. According to a new survey from Common Sense Media, nearly half of all children have not had conversations with their parents about AI safety.

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