Artificial intelligence represents the most profound societal transformation in generations, carrying implications that compare to the advent of nuclear weaponry and demanding immediate, rigorous safety standards to protect children. That warning was delivered by two-time U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy during a daylong summit at New York City’s flagship public library.
The conference, organized by Common Sense Media, brought together public officials, legal scholars, and cultural figures to confront what organizers described as an impending wave of generative technology. Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, told attendees that tech industry leaders cannot be trusted to build safe digital environments independently, characterizing artificial intelligence as social media operating with intensified force.
Amid the discussions, New York Governor Kathy Hochul made an unscheduled appearance to announce state-level regulations targeting chatbot interactions with children. Scheduled to take effect in January, the new law prohibits AI agents from impersonating humans or simulating personal relationships with minors. Specifically, the legislation bans chatbots from encouraging suicide, self-harm, secrecy, or isolation, while forbidding them from discouraging children from seeking help from human sources. The measure also blocks AI tools from engaging in sexually explicit interactions or utilizing a child’s past personal and health data in subsequent exchanges.
While participants praised the state measure, many lamented the absence of comprehensive federal oversight nearly a quarter-century after the rise of social media. Murthy, who now serves as chair of the advisory board for the Youth AI Safety Institute—an organization that tests and rates children’s AI platforms—joined other panelists in calling for broader safeguards. Proposals ranged from mandating tech industry data transparency to granting researchers and regulatory agencies deeper access to proprietary systems. Other suggested remedies included applying consumer-protection laws to mandate rigorous safety testing, adopting European-style deployment bans until platforms prove safe, and instituting criminal penalties for companies that release dangerous technologies. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez emphasized the deterrent effect of severe enforcement, noting his recent $25 billion judgment against Meta.
Beyond legal and regulatory remedies, experts raised concerns regarding the emotional and social development of very young children interacting with voice assistants and AI-enabled toys. Dana Suskind, an early-childhood expert and professor at the University of Chicago, questioned whether constant validation from artificial companions would warp children’s expectations of human relationships, which are inherently messy and vital for learning. She stressed the importance of educating parents so they understand that imperfect human parenting remains superior to automated companionship.
The conference also addressed systemic challenges in education and the modern workforce. John King, chancellor of the State University of New York and a former U.S. Secretary of Education, pointed to recent findings showing that generative artificial intelligence can complete standard coursework at institutions like MIT. King noted that faculty members must reassess student assessments to ensure learners acquire foundational skills. Chelsea Clinton highlighted the socioeconomic dimensions of this shift, citing data showing that teenagers in households earning less than $30,000 are three times more likely to rely entirely or largely on artificial intelligence for homework compared to peers from families earning $75,000 or more.
At the same time, employers emphasized the necessity of digital fluency in the modern economy. Gene Sykes, chairman of global mergers and acquisitions at Goldman Sachs, noted that new recruits mastering artificial intelligence tools are able to achieve high productivity within a single month. However, unequal access to quality education in these technologies risks deepening existing wealth disparities. Although participants debated the most effective immediate strategies, they remained united in the view that the technology will profoundly reshape the future for children and families.
