Mr. Rob Byrne:

I have been involved with BelonG To's services for the previous four years. A concern for LGBTQ youth, particularly those of us who are not open about our identities, is how data is collected through our interactions with AI. AI is being built into more and more websites and apps all the time, often with no way to turn it off. The sale of our data to the highest bidder by big tech, which then uses the data to push specific targeted advertisements to us, could unintentionally out people. This is another important reason we should be able to opt out of recommender algorithms.

AI is also only as good as the information it is trained on and many sources can show bias and reinforce harmful stereotypes, particularly when trained on social media. This risks AI training from its own content, creating a loop where bias is recycled and reinforced within the system. Some LGBTQ young people are also turning to AI chatbots as a form of social interaction when they do not find acceptance at home or in their communities. This is dangerous, as they can become withdrawn from social life, and language models just cannot replace real human interaction or empathy. Some young people have also been able to get around weak guardrails and get detailed instructions on how to harm themselves, with encouragement from the chatbot. Overall, AI has a lot of potential to be used for good. At the same time, it is being used to the detriment of minority groups and society as a whole. AI and tech companies need to be regulated to put young LGBTQ people’s well-being above the pursuit of profit.