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A.I. Trends to Watch: A.I.-Generated Action Figures, Duolingo Drama, and Gemini for Kids

The A.I. personal action figure trend may be harvesting more data than you thought

The Gist: There’s a new social media trend where users create action figures of themselves, complete with personalized accessories. Participants use ChatGPT, often submitting photos of themselves along with a list of things they like (iced coffee, certain handbags, yoga mats, headphones, or other accessories). The chatbot then creates a digital action figure based on your preferences, and users most commonly post their results on X or LinkedIn.

What to Know: Tom Vazdar, area chair of cybersecurity at the Open Institute of Technology, warns against some of the data users may unknowingly give away when participating in this trend. He says that every time we upload an image to ChatGPT, we hand over a “bundle of metadata” including the time it was taken, any faces in the background, and the GPS location of where it was shot. Vazdar points out, “This trend, whether by design or a convenient opportunity, is providing the company with massive volumes of fresh, high-quality facial data from diverse age groups, ethnicities, and geographies.” His advice? If privacy is a concern, turn off chat history to keep your data from being used to train future models.

TSI’s Take: Social media trends are great because they help us feel connected to a community. While trends are super easy to jump on (which can be a good thing), it’s important to be mindful of how our privacy and data are involved, especially when using A.I. Here are some tips to guide students in protecting their privacy online: 

• Think Before You Share: When using A.I. tools like chatbots, avoid sharing personal info (like your age, location, or face without thinking.) That data can be stored, analyzed, and reused to train future algorithms.
• Double-Check Before You Generate: Consider the privacy policy or terms before using an A.I. app or generator. Is your data being saved? Will your voice or image be used to train the A.I.?
• Disable Auto-Save and History: Some A.I. tools automatically save chats, images, or prompts. Turn off those settings when possible or regularly clear them to keep your data from being stored longer than necessary.

Want to learn more about how to help students protect their privacy? Check out this #WinAtSocial Lesson: Protecting our personal information from A.I.

Students are boycotting Duolingo after it switched to an A.I.-first model

The Gist: Duolingo, the go-to language app known for its streaks and viral Duo mascot, faces backlash after shifting to a fully A.I.-powered model and laying off some of its staff. In response, students are boycotting the app, some even breaking streaks that span over 1,500 days.

What to Know: At the end of April, Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn sent a company-wide email stating that the platform would become “A.I.-first.” While the email promised sweeping A.I. integration, Ahn insists that the company will still support existing employees, even though some roles will be eliminated. 

Duolingo users quickly took to social media to criticize the decision, many canceling their subscriptions. One of the most popular features of Duolingo is the ability to keep a “streak” – an award that tracks how many days in a row you take lessons. Students and adults take great pride in their streaks, but this controversy has led them to break streaks as high as 1,500. 

TSI’s Take: For many students, Duolingo’s move confirms a growing fear: Will A.I. take my job someday? And while that fear is real, it’s also a chance to build the skills that A.I. can’t replace.

Here are some tips to help students handle the growing pressure of technology: 

• Stay Curious, Not Scared: Instead of fearing A.I., ask questions. How does it work? What jobs does it impact, and what new ones might it create? Curiosity can turn anxiety into empowerment.
• Develop Human Skills A.I. Can’t Replace: Focus on creativity, empathy, leadership, and critical thinking. These are the skills that will always set people apart from algorithms.
• Do a Digital Check-In: Feeling overwhelmed by tech updates or A.I. news? Pause and check in with yourself. It’s okay to log off, talk it out, or take a break from apps – even if it means breaking a 1,500-day streak.

Want to learn more about how to help students handle the pressure of technology in their lives? Check out this #WinAtSocial Lesson: The Anxious Generation: Debating tech and social media’s role in managing anxiety.

Also, if you want to learn all the ins and outs of Duolingo, check out this #WinAtSocial Playbook: Duolingo. Don’t have access to #WinAtSocial? Reach out to learn more about Platform Playbooks, expert summaries of popular apps, devices, and tech that students navigate daily.

Google plans to roll out a new chatbot marketed for children under 13

The Gist: Recently, Google emailed parents letting them know that the Gemini A.I. chatbot would soon become available to children under 13. The email only went out to Google Family Link users, a service that allows families to set up parental controls for Google products like YouTube and Gmail. 

What to Know: Only children participating in Family Link will have access to the Gemini A.I. chatbot. To sign up for a child account, parents provide the tech company with personal data like their child’s name and birth date. “Gemini Apps will soon be available for your child,” the company said in an email this week to the parent of an 8-year-old. “That means your child can use Gemini to ask questions, get homework help, and make up stories.” 

TSI’s Take: With Google’s new Gemini chatbot rolling out to kids under 13, the tech students use to write stories, ask questions, and do homework is shaping their thinking earlier than ever. But while A.I. can be a powerful tool for creativity and learning, it raises big questions about privacy, bias, and digital literacy. That’s why it’s critical to equip students – and families – with the skills to navigate A.I. with curiosity, caution, and character. Here are some tips to guide students:

• Don’t Believe Everything It Says: Just because a chatbot sounds confident doesn’t mean it’s right. A.I. can make mistakes, show bias, or give outdated info – so always double-check with a trusted adult, teacher, or reliable source.
• Discuss Before You Share: Before typing personal information into an A.I. tool – like your name, school, or feelings – talk with a parent or guardian. Even if it feels like chatting with a friend, it’s still a machine that stores data.
• Develop Your Own Voice: A.I. can help you brainstorm or learn, but don’t let it think for you. Whether writing a story or solving a math problem, your ideas matter most. 

Want to learn more about how to help students strike a balance with technology? Check out this #WinAtSocial Lesson: Making everyday tasks easier with artificial intelligence.

Helping Students Protect Their Privacy When Using A.I., Handle the Pressure of Technology and Trends, and Strike a Balance with Tech

Whether they’re questioning the data behind viral trends, breaking 1,500-day streaks to stand up for workers, or learning how to use A.I. tools with more intention, students are showing that they’re not afraid to think critically about the tech shaping their lives. As educators, we can support them by sparking conversations about digital ethics, modeling curiosity over fear, and empowering them to lead with integrity in an A.I.-driven world. Want to help students sharpen their digital instincts and take control of their online world? Stay ahead of the latest trends impacting students by subscribing to The Huddle — our expert breakdown of social media, tech, and current events shaping students, online and offline.

The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in equipping students to navigate learning & well-being in a tech-fueled world. Through #WinAtSocial, our interactive, peer-to-peer learning platform, we empower students, educators, and families to make high-character choices online and offline. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach essential skills while capturing student voice and actionable insights for educators. These insights help educators maintain a healthy school culture, foster high-impact teaching, and build meaningful relationships with families. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips students authentically, enabling our solution to increase classroom participation and improve student-teacher relationships. Through our one-of-a-kind lesson development process, we create lessons for a variety of core and elective classes while incorporating timely topics like social media, A.I., screen time, misinformation, and current events to help schools stay proactive in how they support student health, happiness, and academic success.