(CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA) I recently typed a simple question into Google search: How much screen time is too much for teenagers? Instead of presenting links, as Google had been doing for many years, it gave me an AI-generated answer. The artificial intelligence agent cited a number, then complicated that reply, noting that quality and balance of time could matter more than the number of hours, and that “too much” time could depend on a teenager’s sleep, exercise, school demands and mood.
I tried another search: Should I take a daily aspirin? This time the AI answer presented me with medical information, warned about risks and offered more tailored guidance if I provided my age and medical history.
kAm%96D6 H6C6 8@@5 C6A=:6D] (92E :?E6C6DE65 >6 H2D E92E E96J H6C6 5:776C6?E <:?5D @7 C6A=:6D]k^Am
kAms632E6 23@FE px 2?DH6CD 92D 7@4FD65 @? 244FC24Ji s:5 E96 DJDE6> 86E E96 2?DH6C C:89En %92E >2EE6CD[ 3FE 244FC24J :D @?=J @?6 E6DE] t249 <:?5 @7 2?DH6C C6BF:C6D 2 FD6C E@ ;F586 D@>6E9:?8 5:776C6?E]k^Am
kAmx 7:?5 :E FD67F= E@ D@CE px 2?DH6CD :?E@ 2? “2?DH6C EJA@8C2A9J” @7 7@FC 3C@25 EJA6Di 724EF2=[ :?E6CAC6E:G6[ 4@?DECF4E:G6 2?5 DEC2E68:4] p 724EF2= 4=2:> 42? @7E6? 36 4964<65 282:?DE 2 D@FC46] p? :?E6CAC6E2E:@? 42? 36 244FC2E6 2?5 DE:== C67=64E 49@:46D 23@FE H9:49 6G:56?46 >2EE6CD] p 4@?DECF4E:@? 42? 36 H6== C62D@?65 2?5 DE:== 36 HC@?8 7@C E96 A6CD@? C646:G:?8 :E] p 362FE:7F==J HC:EE6? DEC2E68:4 5@4F>6?E >2J ?@E 36 ECF6] *6E px AC6D6?ED 2== 7@FC EJA6D @7 2?DH6CD :? >F49 E96 D2>6 7=F6?E[ 2FE9@C:E2E:G6 7@C>j E96 5:776C6?46D 2C6 62DJ E@ >:DD]k^Am
kAmx’> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=:3C2CJ]G:C8:?:2]65F^DE277^JCBd?DQmF?:G6CD:EJ =:3C2C:2? 2?5 562? @7 =:3C2C:6Dk^2m 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 ':C8:?:2 H9@ =625D ?2E:@?2= 677@CED E@ 56G6=@A px 4@>A6E6?4:6D 7@C =:3C2CJ AC@76DD:@?2=D[ 2?5 x 4@?DF=E H:56=J @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@>^4:E2E:@?Dn9=l6?U2>AjFD6Cl*_E%B}*ppppyU2>AjG:6H0@Al=:DE0H@C<DU2>AjD@CE3JlAF352E6Qmpx =:E6C24Jk^2m] x 7:CDE AC@A@D65 E96 EJA@8C2A9J :? E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]242=:3]a_ad]`_b`geQmy@FC?2= @7 p4256>:4 {:3C2C:2?D9:Ak^2m]k^Am
kAm%96 7@FC 42E68@C:6D 2C6 ?@E 2:CE:89E 3@I6D] p C6DA@?D6 7C@> 2? px 286?E 42? C67=64E D6G6C2= EJA6D] %92E D2:5[ x 56D4C:36 6249 EJA6 @7 2?DH6C 36=@H[ 2?5 @776C 8F:52?46 7@C 564:5:?8 H96E96C 2 C6A=J :D C625J E@ FD6 @C ?665D >@C6 :?G6DE:82E:@?]k^Am
k9am(9:49 2?DH6C :D v@@8=6 8:G:?8 J@Fnk^9am
kAmp 724EF2= 2?DH6C >2<6D 2 4=2:> E92E 42?[ :? AC:?4:A=6[ 36 4964<65 282:?DE 6G:56?46] (96? H2D E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 ':C8:?:2 7@F?565n (92E :D E96 496>:42= DJ>3@= 7@C 8@=5nk^Am
kAm%@ 56E6C>:?6 H96E96C 2 724EF2= 2?DH6C :D C@3FDE 6?@F89 7@C J@F E@ FD6[ G6C:7J E96 4=2:> 282:?DE 2? 2AAC@AC:2E6 D@FC46] x7 E96 2?DH6C 4:E6D 2 D@FC46[ 7@==@H E92E =:?< :?DE625 @7 D:>A=J EC62E:?8 E96 2?DH6C :ED6=7 2D AC@@7]k^Am
kAmp? :?E6CAC6E:G6 C6A=J :D 3F:=E @? 6G:56?46[ 3FE E96C6 :D ?@E 2 D:?8=6 E2<62H2J] w@H >F49 D4C66? E:>6 :D E@@ >F49 7@C 2 E66?286Cn s@6D C6>@E6 H@C< C2:D6 AC@5F4E:G:EJn %96 2?DH6C 56A6?5D @? H92E 6G:56?46 :D :?4=F565[ H92E :D =67E @FE 2?5 9@H 5:D28C66>6?E :D F?56CDE@@5]k^Am
kAmv@@8=6’D :?:E:2= 2?DH6C E@ >J D4C66?\E:>6 BF6DE:@? :?5:42E65 E92E EH@ 9@FCD H2D 2 =:>:E 7@C E66?286CD] %96? :E ?@E65 E92E A65:2EC:4 8F:52?46 AFED >@C6 H6:89E @? E96 BF2=:EJ 2?5 4@?E6IE @7 D4C66? FD6 E92? @? D:>A=6 9@FCD] %96 p>6C:42? p4256>J @7 !65:2EC:4D D2JD E96C6 :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]22A]@C8^6?^A2E:6?E\42C6^>65:2\2?5\49:=5C6?^46?E6C\@7\6I46==6?46\@?\D@4:2=\>65:2\2?5\J@FE9\>6?E2=\962=E9^B2\A@CE2=^B2\A@CE2=\=:3C2CJ^B2\A@CE2=\=:3C2CJ\BF6DE:@?D^D4C66?\E:>6\7@C\E66?286CD^Qm?@ 6I24E C64@>>6?565 2>@F?E 7@C E66?Dk^2m 2?5 6>A92D:K6D E96 <:?5 @7 D4C66? FD6 2?5 H92E 24E:G:E:6D :E >:89E 36 5:DA=24:?8] p BF6DE:@? E92E =@@<65 ?F>6C:42= EFC?65 @FE E@ C6BF:C6 :?E6CAC6E2E:@?]k^Am
kAm%@ 2DD6DD :?E6CAC6E:G6 2?DH6CD[ 5@ >@C6 E92? 4964< 724ED] pD< J@FCD6=7 H92E 6G:56?46 E96 DJDE6> 6>A92D:K65[ H92E :E =67E @FE 2?5 H96E96C 2?@E96C 5676?D:3=6 :?E6CAC6E2E:@? 6I:DED] p FD67F= 7@==@H\FA BF6DE:@? E@ AC6D6?E E@ E96 D62C49 6?8:?6 :Di “(92E :D E96 DEC@?86DE 6G:56?46 7@C 2 5:776C6?E 4@?4=FD:@?n”k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQq=@4<D @7 E6IE @? 2 D>2CEA9@?6 D4C66?Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fdha_g^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_h`_\d_\H276H5];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AU2>AjHlfc_Q ^mk7:842AE:@?mp? :?E6CAC6E:G6 2?DH6C =:<6 E9:D C6DA@?D6 7C@> 2 v@@8=6 px H6:89D 6G:56?46 2?5 4@?D:56CD 5:D28C66>6?ED] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^56E2:=^?6HD\A9@E@^E96\8@@8=6\32C5\2:\:D\D66?\@?\2\>@3:=6\56G:46\:?\E9:D\?6HD\A9@E@^`aceh_aadfn25AA@AFAlECF6Qmy22A pCC:6?D^}FC!9@E@ G:2 v6EEJ x>286D G:2 %96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAmr@?DECF4E:G6 2?DH6CD 2C6 >256 C2E96C E92? 5:D4@G6C65] pD< px E@ 5C27E 2 4@G6C =6EE6C[ HC:E6 2 6F=@8J[ DF886DE 2 =6DD@? A=2? @C C6@C82?:K6 2 A2C28C2A9 – E96C6 :D ?@ D:?8=6 4@CC64E C6DF=E]k^Am
kAm*@F 42? ;F586 E96 C6DA@?D6 3J 4@?D:56C:?8 AFCA@D6[ 2F5:6?46 2?5 G@:46] p 6F=@8J 42? 36 8C2>>2E:42==J A6C764E 2?5 DE:== D@F?5 ?@E9:?8 =:<6 E96 A6CD@? 56=:G6C:?8 :E[ @C :E >2J =2?5 7=2E @? 72>:=J >6>36CD 962C:?8 :E] xE >2J ?@E 42AEFC6 E96 56462D65 A6CD@? H6==[ 6:E96C] r@?D:56C E96D6 <:?5D @7 67764ED 2D J@F C625]k^Am
kAm$EC2E68:4 BF6DE:@?D 2D< H92E E@ 5@] $9@F=5 x E2<6 2 52:=J 2DA:C:?n $9@F=5 x 3FJ E96 9@FD6n %96 2?DH6CD 4@>3:?6 :?7@C>2E:@? H:E9 ;F58>6?E 23@FE 8@2=D[ C:D<D[ EC256\@77D 2?5 A6CD@?2= 4:C4F>DE2?46D]k^Am
kAm|J 2DA:C:? D62C49 D9@HD H9J 4@?E6IE >2EE6CD] v@@8=6 H2C?65 23@FE C:D<D[ E@=5 >6 E@ 4@?DF=E 2 >65:42= AC@76DD:@?2= 2?5 @776C65 >@C6 E2:=@C65 :?7@C>2E:@? :7 x AC@G:565 >J 286[ 42C5:@G2D4F=2C 9:DE@CJ 2?5 C:D< @7 3=665:?8] %92E 42FE:@? >2E496D E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FDAC6G6?E:G6D6CG:46DE2D<7@C46]@C8^FDADE7^C64@>>6?52E:@?^2DA:C:?\E@\AC6G6?E\42C5:@G2D4F=2C\5:D62D6\AC6G6?E:G6\>65:42E:@?Qm&]$] !C6G6?E:G6 $6CG:46D %2D< u@C46 8F:52?46k^2m] xE D2JD E96 564:D:@? E@ DE2CE =@H\5@D6 2DA:C:? 7@C AC6G6?E:@? @7 962CE 2EE24<D 2?5 DEC@<6D D9@F=5 36 :?5:G:5F2=:K65 2?5 H6:89 42C5:@G2D4F=2C 36?67:E 282:?DE 3=665:?8 C:D<]k^Am
kAmu@C DEC2E68:4 2?DH6CD[ 2D< H92E E96 DJDE6> H@F=5 ?665 E@ <?@H 367@C6 :ED 25G:46 4@F=5 C62D@?23=J 2AA=J E@ J@F :?5:G:5F2==J] r@?D:56C E96 DE2<6D[ E96 2=E6C?2E:G6D 2?5 H96E96C 2 BF2=:7:65 A6CD@? D9@F=5 36 :?G@=G65] u@C E96 2DA:C:? BF6DE:@?[ 2 FD67F= 7@==@H\FA H@F=5 36i “(92E 56E2:=D 23@FE >J 286[ >65:42= 9:DE@CJ @C 3=665:?8 C:D< 4@F=5 492?86 E9:D 25G:46n (92E D9@F=5 x 5:D4FDD H:E9 >J 5@4E@C 367@C6 564:5:?8n” %96 7:?2= ;F58>6?E C6>2:?D J@FCD 3642FD6 J@F 2C6 E96 A6CD@? H9@ 92D E@ =:G6 H:E9 E96 @FE4@>6]k^Am
k9am%96 7:CDE BF6DE:@? 27E6C 2? 2?DH6Ck^9am
kAm|J BF6DE:@?D 3682? 2D @C5:?2CJ v@@8=6 D62C496D] x 5:5 ?@E @A6? 2 492E3@E] %96 px\86?6C2E65 C6DA@?D6D D:>A=J 2CC:G65[ 2?5 =:?<D H6C6 2AA6?565]k^Am
kAm%96 C6DA@?D6D H6C6 FD67F=] v@@8=6 25565 4@?E6IE[ 24<?@H=65865 4@>A=:42E:@?D 2?5 @776C65 E2:=@C65 8F:52?46 :7 x DFAA=:65 255:E:@?2= :?7@C>2E:@?] (:E9:? 6249 C6DA@?D6[ E9@F89[ E96 EJA6 @7 2?DH6C 4@F=5 492?86] #6A@CE:?8 H92E 2 >65:42= 8F:56=:?6 D2JD :D 5:776C6?E 7C@> 564:5:?8 9@H :E 2AA=:6D E@ 2 A2CE:4F=2C A6CD@?] p 7=F6?E C6DA@?D6 42? >@G6 36EH66? E9@D6 EJA6D @7 2?DH6CD H:E9@FE 2 ?@E:4623=6 492?86 :? G@:46]k^Am
kAmpD 2 FD6C[ ECJ E@ C64@8?:K6 H92E <:?5 @7 :?E6==64EF2= H@C< E96 px 286?E 5:5 7@C 2 C6DA@?D6 J@F C646:G6] r@?D:56C H96E96C E96 :?E6CAC6E2E:@? :D A6CDF2D:G6 @C E96 25G:46 7:ED J@FC 4:C4F>DE2?46D]k^Am
kAmq67@C6 2D<:?8 H96E96C 2? px 2?DH6C :D C:89E[ 2D< 2 >@C6 32D:4 BF6DE:@?i (92E <:?5 @7 2?DH6C :D E9:Dn %96 EJA6 H:== E6== J@F H92E E@ 5@ ?6IE]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\agha_`Qm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^=6@\D\=@\`c`gfc`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\agha_`Qm{6@ $] {@k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\G:C8:?:2\fdanFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\agha_`Qm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 ':C8:?:2k^2mk^6>mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^>2<:?8\2\4=2:>\2E\E96\72:C\H@C<\4@>>:DD:@?\E96D6\2C6\E96\?6H\2:\CF=6D\J@F\?665\E@\7@==@H\ah_ebbnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\agha_`Qm|2<:?8 2 4=2:> 2E E96 u2:C (@C< r@>>:DD:@?n %96D6 2C6 E96 ?6H px CF=6D J@F ?665 E@ 7@==@Hk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^8@E\>@?6J\BF6DE:@?D\9@H\E@\86E\492E3@ED\E@\8:G6\J@F\244FC2E6\2?DH6CD\agg`gdnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\agha_`Qmv@E >@?6J BF6DE:@?Dn w@H E@ 86E 492E3@ED E@ 8:G6 J@F 244FC2E6 2?DH6CDk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^96C6D\9@H\C6D62C496CD\2C6\96=A:?8\2:D\86E\E96:C\724ED\DEC2:89E\acdcebnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\agha_`Qmw6C6’D 9@H C6D62C496CD 2C6 96=A:?8 pxD 86E E96:C 724ED DEC2:89Ek^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?m{6@ $] {@ 5@6D ?@E H@C< 7@C[ 4@?DF=E[ @H? D92C6D :? @C C646:G6 7F?5:?8 7C@> 2?J 4@>A2?J @C @C82?:K2E:@? E92E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6[ 2?5 92D 5:D4=@D65 ?@ C6=6G2?E 277:=:2E:@?D 36J@?5 E96:C 24256>:4 2AA@:?E>6?E]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^agha_`^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.