A fiery clash has broken out on GB News over the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the classroom, with critics warning it could "destroy" the development of young minds.
Speaking on the People's Channel, political commentator Emma Woolf delivered a blistering takedown of the tech revolution, arguing that children are being robbed of "real human connection" in favour of "sycophantic" chatbots.
However, commentator Lewis Oakley hit back, branding calls to ban the technology "ridiculous" and warning that the UK risks losing a global arms race to America and China.
Speaking on GB News this morning, Mrs Woolf said: "I think this is an appalling idea. What are we going to have nex artificial intelligence teachers? Parents? Lovers? Girlfriends? Boyfriends?
"There’s nothing worse for young, developing brains than artificial intelligence. Actually, what children and young people need, while they’re still forming, is real human connection.
"Their brains are still developing millions of new neural pathways, making new connections every single day. And yet we’re giving them artificial intelligence.
"What is this thing that we’ve created? And don’t you know how it is with ChatGPT? It’s very empathetic, it’s very supportive, it reinforces you, it doesn’t disagree with you, it doesn’t break up with you, it doesn’t tell you you’re wrong.
"So children and young people are not experiencing those kinds of difficult situations. Is it any wonder they’re depressed?"
Emma Woolf fumes that the revolution is 'appalling'
|GB NEWS
Mr Oakley responded: "Maybe we should look at our biggest competitors, like America and China.
"Are we really going to put our kids behind in the race for technology? AI isn’t going anywhere, is it? Let’s be real 100 per cent.
"I think everything Emma says is right. No one is saying, 'let’s get rid of teachers and human interaction and just give children a chatbot..
"AI is a tool, and we need to teach children how to use that tool as responsible parents. Banning it is ridiculous they’ll just figure out how to use it on YouTube and TikTok anyway.
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Lewis Oakley hit back at the commentator
|GB NEWS
"If we, as responsible parents, don’t explain that AI can sometimes be wrong, that it can sometimes tell you what you want to hear, and help children navigate it properly, then we’re missing a huge opportunity.
"If we ban it, we’re missing the chance to really level up education for kids everywhere. We still have children leaving school unable to read and write. AI could help with that."
The heated row came as the US is facing a landmark trial against social media companies Instagram and Youtube.
The tech giants have been accused of turning their platforms into digital “addiction machines” designed to maximise screen time.
In his opening statement before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl and a jury, Mark Lanier argued that his client, the plaintiff identified as “K.G.M.,” developed mental health issues as a result of her addiction to social media.
“These companies built machines designed to addict the brains of children — and they did it on purpose,” Lanier told the court.
Lawyers representing Meta and YouTube countered that K.G.M.’s addiction was driven by other factors in her life, not by any negligence on the part of their platforms