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Live TV Chatbot Demo Puts Youth Safety and AI Regulation in Sharp Focus

The on-air exchange highlighted a rift between tougher protections for minors versus concerns about throttling domestic innovation.

Overview

  • On ZDF's Markus Lanz, Sascha Lobo held a live conversation with ChatGPT, including a playful flirt, leaving the host visibly alarmed.
  • Ethics scholar Judith Simon warned that chatbot companionship simulates friendship and could erode genuine relationships.
  • Psychologist Leon Windscheid cautioned that people are turning to bots as therapy substitutes, which tend to validate rather than challenge users.
  • The debate unfolded as Australia’s new law took effect restricting under‑16s from major platforms and requiring age verification by providers.
  • Sascha Lobo urged restraint on bans to avoid ceding AI leadership to the U.S. and China, as others cited rising youth‑protection violations and argued for stricter limits up to age 16.