Google Makes Bard Available to Teens: A Positive Step with Some Caveats

Google announced on Wednesday that it will be making its large language model, Bard, available to teens in "most countries around the world" as long as they meet Google's minimum age requirement to be in charge of their own account (for many countries, that age is 13). The company says that it will be implementing a number of safeguards to protect teens, including:

• Limiting the types of content that Bard can generate. Bard will not be able to generate content that is sexually suggestive, violent, or hateful.
• Providing users with clear warnings about the potential risks of using Bard. These warnings will explain that Bard is a machine learning model and that its responses may not always be accurate or truthful.
• Giving users the ability to control what information Bard can access. Users will be able to choose whether or not to share their personal information with Bard and to control what types of websites Bard can visit.

Google says that it is committed to providing a safe and positive experience for all users, including teens. The company says that it will continue to monitor the use of Bard and make changes to its safeguards as needed.

How Will Google's Safeguards Work in Practice?

It will be interesting to see how Google's safeguards work in practice. It is also important to note that these safeguards are not foolproof. Teens may still be able to find ways to access inappropriate content or to be misled by Bard. It is important for parents to talk to their teens about the risks of using Bard and to monitor their online activity.

Overall, I think it is a good thing that Google is making Bard available to teens. Bard is a powerful tool that can be used for a variety of purposes, including education, entertainment, and creativity. However, it is important to use Bard responsibly and to be aware of the potential risks.

Additional Thoughts

In addition to the safeguards that Google has announced, I believe that there are a few other things that parents can do to help keep their teens safe when using Bard:

• Talk to your teens about the importance of being critical of the information that they find online. Help them to understand that not everything that they read or see on the internet is true.
• Encourage your teens to report any inappropriate content that they find to Google. Google has a process for reporting abuse and will take action against users who violate its policies.
• Help your teens to develop healthy online habits. This includes things like taking breaks from the internet, being mindful of their privacy, and being respectful of others.

By following these tips, parents can help their teens have a safe and positive experience when using Bard.