PEORIA ( 25News Now ) -September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, and a local behavioral health expert from OSF HealthCare is warning parents about the dangers of artificial intelligence.

AI is said to be growing rapidly with some unforeseen consequences.

There have been reports nationwide from 2023, in which young people using AI chatbots have been groomed sexually, or instances where chatbots promoted suicidal ideations and self-harm, or other risk-taking behaviors.

Dr. Kyle Boerke, the director of behavioral health for ambulatory services at OSF, said that with AI growing quickly, protections need to be put in place, whether by lawmakers or parents, delaying the use of this technology.

“If we can just push back when we start giving our children access to these very power

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