Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming—if it hasn’t already—a central part of our children’s lives. From helping with homework to chatting with virtual assistants and shaping how children learn, AI is everywhere. Yet while tech experts and educators dominate the conversation, one crucial voice has been missing: paediatricians.
Dr. Aric Sigman, a respected health educator and author, has just published a paper in the medical journal Acta Paediatrica titled “AI in Childhood and the Need for Paediatric Input.” In it, he argues that child health professionals must be included in discussions about AI and children. We couldn’t agree more.
Just as Family First raised concerns in 2015 about screen time and smartphone use among children, Dr. Sigman now highlights similar red flags with AI. He warns of a potential fallout akin to what we’ve seen with smartphones—rising anxiety, social isolation, sleep disturbances, and attention issues. And even, in some unfortunate situations, death – like the case of teenager Adam Raine whose parents are suing Open AI for negligence and wrongful death. Sixteen-year old Adam was found dead in his bedroom on April 11th. Then, his parents discovered he had exchanged messages with a chatbot that effectively advised him on how to take his own life, including methods.
While research into the impact of AI on childhood is still in its early stages, what we do know already calls for a precautionary approach. Some of the emerging concerns include:
- Increased signs of addiction linked to social chatbot use
- Greater loneliness correlated with frequent interaction with social bots
- Disruption of cognitive development, affecting critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Children’s brains, emotions, and social skills are still developing. AI tools—especially those that mimic human interaction—could influence how kids think, regulate emotions, relate to others, and even form their sense of self.
Paediatricians are uniquely trained to detect subtle changes in behaviour and development. Their insights could help shape AI tools that support rather than disrupt healthy growth. Dr. Sigman’s call for paediatric involvement is not just timely—it’s essential.
As AI continues to evolve, so must our understanding of its impact on children. Including paediatric voices in this conversation ensures that technological progress doesn’t come at the cost of the well-being of our children.
