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Why AI Chatbots Are a Rival to the Family (with Michael Toscano)
· Governance & Policy

Why AI Chatbots Are a Rival to the Family (with Michael Toscano)

Michael Toscano discusses family-centered AI policy, including AI companions, sexualized chatbots, self-harm risks, schools, and smartphone use. He argues that governance should hold technology accountable to families and children’s development.

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Show Notes

Michael Toscano is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Family Studies and Director of its Family First Technology Initiative. He joins the podcast to discuss family-centered AI policy. The conversation covers AI companions, self-harm risks, sexualized chatbots, education, smartphones in schools, and why "infinite patience" can harm children's growth. Toscano also explains Catholic social teaching, public pushback against rapid AI deployment, and why society-wide governance may be needed to keep technology accountable to families.

LINKS:

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Episode Preview

(01:12) Family centered AI

(09:54) Companion design harms

(17:23) Technology and family

(25:48) Society wide governance

(33:09) Catholic AI response

(39:44) Double movement politics

(49:36) Technology mythos challenged

(59:48) Competition and control

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