AI Chatbots Are Getting More Powerful: What Parents Should Know About Safety

Artificial intelligence chatbots and assistants are becoming more advanced. They can now take actions on your behalf, like scheduling appointments or accessing files. Microsoft is developing new security measures to control what these AI agents can and cannot do with your personal information. This affects anyone using AI assistants built into apps, websites, or devices. These tools might have access to your emails, calendars, documents, or other personal data. As they become more capable of working independently, it becomes more important to limit what they can see and do. Right now, most families do not need to take immediate action. This is more about how companies are building future AI tools. However, you should be mindful of what permissions you grant to AI assistants.

When an app or service asks to connect an AI feature to your accounts, read what it is requesting access to before clicking yes. To stay protected as AI tools evolve, follow these ongoing habits. Only use AI assistants from companies you trust. Review the privacy settings in any AI tools you currently use. Check what data they can access and turn off permissions they do not need. Teach your children to think carefully before sharing personal information with any chatbot or AI assistant, even if it seems helpful. Treat AI tools the same way you would treat giving information to a stranger: share only what is necessary.