How Is AI Affecting Our Kids? Joseph Gordon-Levitt Calls for Stronger Protections for Children at UNGA 2026
23 Oct 2026
In a conversation with WIRED journalist Kate Taylor at the United Nations General Assembly, actor and filmmaker Joseph Gordon-Levitt discusses how AI chatbots, digital companions and recommendation algorithms could affect children's development, creativity and human relationships.
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly present in children's lives, from conversational chatbots and interactive toys to personalised entertainment platforms. As these technologies become more sophisticated, questions are emerging about their potential impact on young people's emotional development, creativity and ability to form meaningful human relationships.
Speaking with Kate Taylor during a discussion titled Human Agency in the Age of AI at the 2026 United Nations General Assembly, actor and filmmaker Joseph Gordon-Levitt raised concerns about the commercial incentives shaping AI products designed for children.
The conversation, published on 22 October 2026 through Gordon-Levitt's Joe's Journal newsletter, explored the responsibilities of parents, technology companies and governments in protecting children's wellbeing as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life.
Are AI Chatbots and Toys Affecting Children's Development?
One of Gordon-Levitt's central concerns is the difference between what AI products are designed to achieve and what children need for healthy development.
He argues that businesses developing algorithms must prioritise commercial objectives, whether through toy sales, subscriptions, advertising or user engagement. These incentives, he suggests, do not necessarily align with children's developmental needs.
“You have to ask, well, how is the business that's putting out this algorithm making money?” Gordon-Levitt told Taylor.
He expressed particular concern about AI companions that simulate emotional intimacy and provide continuous attention or reassurance.
According to Gordon-Levitt, children may become accustomed to digital interactions that consistently respond to their preferences, potentially affecting how they approach relationships that involve disagreement, compromise and emotional complexity.
He questioned what sustained interaction with artificial companions could mean for children's ability to develop relationships with other people.
These comments reflect Gordon-Levitt's concerns rather than established conclusions about the long-term developmental effects of AI companions. The discussion did not present clinical research demonstrating that such outcomes are inevitable.
Creativity Versus Automated Digital Experiences
Gordon-Levitt also discussed how his family approaches technology use, distinguishing between digital tools that support creative expression and algorithms that encourage passive engagement.
As a father of three children, he explained that his household does not reject technology entirely. One of his children, for example, uses digital music software to develop original compositions.
However, Gordon-Levitt encourages creative activities that require active participation rather than relying on automated shortcuts.
The distinction, he suggested, is whether technology enables children to develop their own skills or performs the creative work on their behalf.
He also described restricting exposure to personalised recommendation systems that collect behavioural information and use it to optimise engagement.
For Gordon-Levitt, supporting children's digital development involves evaluating how a particular technology works, what it encourages and whether it strengthens or replaces meaningful human activity.
He acknowledged that families have different needs and that no single approach to technology use will be appropriate for every household.
Should Parents Alone Be Responsible for AI Safety?
The conversation also addressed whether protecting children from potentially harmful AI systems should be the responsibility of parents or technology companies.
Gordon-Levitt argued that parental supervision remains essential but cannot resolve every challenge, particularly when digital products become widely adopted among children's peers.
He described the dilemma parents face when their children want to use platforms that everyone around them is already using.
In such circumstances, preventing access may create social exclusion, while permitting access could expose children to technologies their parents consider inappropriate.
Gordon-Levitt compared this challenge to existing restrictions on products and activities considered unsuitable for minors.
He argued that government regulation can help families establish boundaries that would otherwise be difficult to maintain individually.
His position was that parents, companies and governments should share responsibility for protecting children rather than treating digital safety as an exclusively individual parenting decision.
Why Global AI Governance Matters
At the United Nations, Gordon-Levitt emphasised the importance of international cooperation in developing rules for advanced technologies.
One challenge, he explained, is that individual countries may hesitate to introduce regulations if they believe doing so will place their technology industries at a competitive disadvantage.
International coordination could help address those concerns by establishing more consistent expectations across jurisdictions.
Gordon-Levitt drew a historical comparison with the development of international cooperation around nuclear technology following the Second World War.
He suggested that artificial intelligence presents another challenge requiring countries to coordinate their approaches to governance and public protection.
The discussion framed children's rights and human agency as important considerations within the broader international conversation about AI regulation.
AI Companions: Technology or Human Relationships?
Another central theme was the tendency to attribute human qualities to artificial intelligence systems.
Gordon-Levitt warned that as chatbots develop increasingly convincing voices, videos and conversational capabilities, people may begin perceiving them as friends or independent beings rather than commercial products.
He argued that this distinction becomes particularly important when children interact with systems designed to simulate emotional relationships.
“Are these companies gods creating new species or are they businesses creating new products?” he asked.
His broader concern is that treating AI systems as people could obscure the business structures and commercial incentives behind them.
Gordon-Levitt acknowledged the potential of artificial intelligence to contribute to medical advances and solve complex technical challenges. However, he questioned whether obtaining those benefits requires presenting AI as a substitute for human companionship.
His argument centres on preserving human agency: the ability of individuals to make choices, develop skills and maintain relationships without becoming unnecessarily dependent on automated systems.
Protecting Human Agency in an AI-Driven Childhood
The discussion highlights an increasingly important question for families, educators, technology developers and policymakers: how can children benefit from AI without losing opportunities for independent thinking, creativity and human connection?
Gordon-Levitt's remarks emphasise three overlapping responsibilities: parents establishing appropriate boundaries, companies considering the developmental consequences of their products, and governments developing protections that extend beyond individual households.
As AI systems become more convincing and accessible, the conversation about children's digital experiences is likely to extend beyond screen time to include emotional attachment, commercial influence and the design of artificial companions.
The challenge is not simply whether children should use artificial intelligence, but how these systems can be designed and governed to support their wellbeing, autonomy and development.
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Sara Srifi
Sara is a Software Engineering and Business student with a passion for astronomy, cultural studies, and human-centered storytelling. She explores the quiet intersections between science, identity, and imagination, reflecting on how space, art, and society shape the way we understand ourselves and the world around us. Her writing draws on curiosity and lived experience to bridge disciplines and spark dialogue across cultures.
