Little Talks, Big Impact: AI & Well-being
At PLC Sydney, we are delighted to share the second edition of Little Talks, Big Impact, a parent education series designed to support meaningful connection at home. Each edition offers gentle conversation prompts to explore with your daughter: at the dinner table, on the way to school, or during a walk together. These prompts are grounded in the College’s well-being framework: being, becoming and belonging.
What promises connection can, in the end, create disonncetion.
AI and the Rise of Artificial Connection
Recently, I spoke with two young people in their early twenties. Both were well-educated, had strong friendships and fulfilling jobs. Yet in times of emotional distress, each had turned to AI chatbots for insight and advice on relationships.
Their stories reflect a growing trend. Dr Burgis recently noted that 72% of young people have engaged with some form of AI companion. Our Pamela Nutt Address speaker, Associate Professor Sarah Irving-Stonebraker, also highlighted that young people increasingly describe feeling “disconnected.”
AI’s appeal is obvious: it is available 24/7, offering instant, positive feedback when a young person feels alone. But as we have learned from the smartphone revolution, what promises connection can ultimately create disconnection. The reality is that AI companies profit when we keep clicking. Dependency is not a flaw of the system — it is the design.
Psychologist Sahra O’Doherty has warned that AI chatbots are not built to heal, but to mirror. For vulnerable users, this can deepen distress rather than relieve it.
What Does This Mean for Young People?
Teenagers are especially vulnerable. With still-developing prefrontal cortices, they are more likely to replace real human connection with artificial ones. Platforms like Snapchat (“MyAI”), TikTok (“Tako” or “Genie”), and Instagram now integrate AI bots directly into their apps.
While distress cannot (and should not) be removed from life, we can teach our daughters how to respond to big emotions with wisdom and resilience. Our role as parents and educators is to strengthen human connection – the antidote to artificial “friendship.”
Strategies for Families
- Keep conversations open. Use car rides or other quiet moments as opportunities for gentle dialogue.
- Encourage help-seeking. Let your daughter know she can always turn to you or our Well-being staff when struggling with “big emotions.”
- Use humour wisely. Light-hearted humour can help put emotions in perspective. Films such as Inside Out and Inside Out 2 provide excellent conversation starters.
- Check devices for AI bots. If you find one, discuss what AI is – and what it isn’t.
- Point to real resources. Remind your daughter of services like Kids Helpline (1800 551 800) and Beyond Blue (1300 224 636).
- Seek professional support if needed. Psychologists can provide trusted, human connection.
- Stay informed. The eSafety Commissioner regularly hosts free webinars and provides resources to help parents and carers understand emerging technologies like AI companions. Explore their website to see upcoming sessions www.esafety.gov.au
Our role as parents is to strengthen human connection – the antidote to artificial ‘friendship’.
When we show our daughters that distress is a normal part of life, and model wise ways of responding, we provide the grounding that AI cannot.
Further reading
- eSafety Commissioner Website
- Inside Out 1 and 2, Pixar Animation Studios, 2015 & 2024
- Her, Directed by Spike Jonze, Annapurna Pictures, 2013
- Taylor, Josh. “AI chatbots are becoming popular alternatives to therapy. But they may worsen mental health crises, experts warn.” The Guardian, 3 August 2025
For further support or information, please contact the Senior School Well-being Team via Mrs Liz D’Arbon: edarbon@plc.nsw.edu.au
Dr Sarah Golsby-Smith
Head of Learning and Teaching at PLC Sydney
Sarah has also taught in both government and independent schools, as well as across co-ed and both single sex schools i.e. girls schools and boys schools.