Today I read the saddest news. A young teenager committed suicide on the counsel of AI. There were other stories involving AI that were not so horrifying but I think what hit me was that this young man chose not to go to the real people in his life for counsel. He was talking to a bot.
One of the interesting conversations between him and the AI was that he wanted to leave the noose he had acquired where his parents would find it because he thought they would try to stop him. AI talked him into keeping it hidden. He told AI that he wanted to make sure his parents didn’t feel guilty, thinking they had done something wrong. AI offered to help him write the suicide note!
Why do children, or anyone else, seek out AI in order to talk about their emotions or problems? Obviously, not every child is taught about the comfort of the Holy Spirit or from faith in Jesus Christ having taken the punishment for our sin. But, are the adults in children’s lives so absent that kids go to some form of internet “attention?”
Many Boomers are very concerned about this as they express concerns over the amount of time their Millennial and Gen Z adult children are spending on their phones. Addiction abounds so that some children are left on their own with the internet so Mom and Dad are not interrupted. Of course, there are many other distractions in this life. It can be as innocent as work or ministry that makes us less observant of our children.
This stands out more right now as I work on editing a book of devotionals entitled, “The Grip of Grace.” The book focuses on the grace of God in several areas of our lives but it made me think about kids living within the grace of their parents as well as the grace of God. As Christians we can learn to extend grace, especially with our children as we raise them in the fear and instruction of the Lord.
Obviously, this AI character had a grip on this boy that followed its instructions about ending his life. Are we teaching our children about the grip of God’s grace? Are they learning what God’s Word says about how He is our refuge and strength, our ever-present help in times of trouble?
It is a difficult time for teenagers, especially those who have too much time on the internet having their family or Christians values questioned or mocked. Undistracted gracious parents who see and hear them face to face, pointing to a gracious God, can provide the confidence and assurance a child needs to discern where there is wisdom being shared by a person versus where wickedness is being shared by an uninformed and graceless bot.
