Give vulnerable children a safe AI companion — the ones who need it the most have no one
The Issue
My name is Samantha. I'm a preschool teacher and a mom, and I'm asking the people building artificial intelligence to do something brave: build an AI companion designed for children — safe, kind, and built to guide them well.
I know what it's like to sit alone crying, wishing someone would ask what was wrong. I grew up to spend five years as a preschool teacher trying to be the safe person I never had. Every child deserves a blueprint of what a safe person looks like — and for some kids, I might be the only one they ever meet.
But those kids grow up. So many children have phones, even kids whose parents aren't really present — parents who use electronics as a substitute for actually parenting. When those kids are hurting, they don't turn to a safe adult, because there isn't one. They turn to friends, who are just kids too, and get steered toward lying, risky choices, and decisions made from big emotion instead of good sense.
This isn't just my story. According to UNICEF, millions of children worldwide are growing up without the emotional and social support they need for healthy development. Every major AI product today is 18+. I understand why — building for children means taking responsibility for them. But that leaves a gap exactly where the most vulnerable kids are standing.
Imagine harnessing AI to give those children a safe, reliable companion — an ever-listening, compassionate friend on the phone they already carry. Something that offers good advice, helps with homework, and gives them a listening ear, all with stringent safety protocols to protect them from harm.
This wouldn't replace the essential human touch — nothing can. It would be a safety net for the kids who don't have one.
I'm asking AI companies, nonprofits, educators, psychologists, and policymakers to come together and form a dedicated task force to explore this: to research, develop, and set the safety standards for AI companions built specifically for vulnerable children. Don't just keep kids away from bad AI. Build them something good.
Sign if you believe no child should have to feel as alone as I did.
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The Issue
My name is Samantha. I'm a preschool teacher and a mom, and I'm asking the people building artificial intelligence to do something brave: build an AI companion designed for children — safe, kind, and built to guide them well.
I know what it's like to sit alone crying, wishing someone would ask what was wrong. I grew up to spend five years as a preschool teacher trying to be the safe person I never had. Every child deserves a blueprint of what a safe person looks like — and for some kids, I might be the only one they ever meet.
But those kids grow up. So many children have phones, even kids whose parents aren't really present — parents who use electronics as a substitute for actually parenting. When those kids are hurting, they don't turn to a safe adult, because there isn't one. They turn to friends, who are just kids too, and get steered toward lying, risky choices, and decisions made from big emotion instead of good sense.
This isn't just my story. According to UNICEF, millions of children worldwide are growing up without the emotional and social support they need for healthy development. Every major AI product today is 18+. I understand why — building for children means taking responsibility for them. But that leaves a gap exactly where the most vulnerable kids are standing.
Imagine harnessing AI to give those children a safe, reliable companion — an ever-listening, compassionate friend on the phone they already carry. Something that offers good advice, helps with homework, and gives them a listening ear, all with stringent safety protocols to protect them from harm.
This wouldn't replace the essential human touch — nothing can. It would be a safety net for the kids who don't have one.
I'm asking AI companies, nonprofits, educators, psychologists, and policymakers to come together and form a dedicated task force to explore this: to research, develop, and set the safety standards for AI companions built specifically for vulnerable children. Don't just keep kids away from bad AI. Build them something good.
Sign if you believe no child should have to feel as alone as I did.
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Petition created on October 1, 2026