![\"A](\"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/read-chat-gpt.jpg\")
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O<\/span>ne rainy Tuesday evening, <\/span>Gabrielle H., 15, opened her <\/span>ongoing conversation with <\/span>ChatGPT.<\/span> What should I wear <\/span>to homecoming? The theme is <\/span>Met Gala<\/span><\/em>, she typed. Within seconds, outfit <\/span>ideas appeared on her screen, complete <\/span>with dress colors, styles and accessories. <\/span>It was faster than any of her friends could <\/span>have replied via text and, tbh, \u201cthe selects <\/span>were pretty solid,\u201d says Gabrielle. <\/span><\/p>\n This wasn\u2019t the first time Gabrielle had <\/span>turned to ChatGPT for the kind of tips she <\/span>might usually seek from friends or family\u2014or <\/span>for help navigating tricky situations. <\/span><\/p>\n A few weeks earlier, her bestie asked for <\/span>dating advice. \u201cMy friend had been hang<\/span>ing out with this guy for a while, and she <\/span>wanted to end it in a kind way. I\u2019d never <\/span>broken up with anyone, so I asked Chat for <\/span>some ideas on how she could do it. It gave <\/span>some good examples,\u201d Gabrielle shares. <\/span><\/p>\n Artificial intelligence apps like ChatGPT <\/span>and Gemini are built to understand and <\/span>respond like humans, often seeming to <\/span>have all the right answers. And unlike peo<\/span>ple, AI responds ASAP. <\/span><\/p>\n If you wanted to, you could talk to it <\/span>all day, asking it what you should make for <\/span>lunch, what kind of flirty text to send to <\/span>your crush or to quiz you on algebra. <\/span><\/p>\n And plenty of teens do: According to a <\/span>new study by Common Sense Media, more <\/span>than 70% of teens have used tools like <\/span>ChatGPT and Gemini, and half of teens use <\/span>them regularly. <\/span><\/p>\n But even though these chatbots may <\/span>sound like people, it\u2019s important to remem<\/span>ber that they\u2019re actually\u2026not. And as more <\/span>of us rely on AI to navigate life\u2019s big (and <\/span>small) challenges, knowing exactly when\u2014<\/span>and how\u2014you should be engaging bots is <\/span>key. It can mean the difference between <\/span>getting guidance that\u2019s helpful\u2026or surpris<\/span>ingly harmful. To help make sense of AI, we <\/span>asked the IRL experts to break it down.<\/span><\/p>\n Use AI? Yes<\/span><\/strong>.<\/strong> While copying and pasting an <\/span>AI-generated essay is never a good idea <\/span>(that\u2019s plagiarism, FYI), a chatbot can be a <\/span>superb study buddy. <\/span><\/p>\n AI ethicist Catharina Doria says to think <\/span>of it as a tool. It can be terrific at tutoring\u2014 <\/span>breaking down concepts you\u2019ve covered in <\/span>class but are still struggling to understand. <\/span><\/p>\n Confused about the Krebs cycle? Ask <\/span>ChatGPT to walk you through it step by <\/span>step, then generate 10 practice Q\u2019s to <\/span>make sure you\u2019re crystal clear before your <\/span>biology quiz. <\/span><\/p>\n AI can also help you save time. Say you <\/span>have an essay due for English class. Gemini <\/span>can help you narrow down your topic ideas <\/span>and draft an initial outline. <\/span><\/p>\n Bots are also awesome at creating per<\/span>sonalized study plans and assignment to-<\/span>do lists. Working on a group project? You <\/span>can ask ChatGPT to map out everything <\/span>your team needs to prep, complete with <\/span>suggested deadlines. <\/span><\/p>\n The key is using AI to enhance your <\/span>learning and productivity\u2014not to take the <\/span>easy way out.<\/span><\/p>\n Use AI? No<\/span><\/strong>.<\/strong> No matter how convincing <\/span>they sound, bots aren\u2019t qualified to give <\/span>advice about complex human emotions. <\/span><\/p>\n Jasmine A., 13, says she\u2019s asked AI for <\/span>tips on calming her nerves before a big <\/span>class presentation. But she stops short of <\/span>asking for help with anything more serious. <\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Ritu Goel, an adolescent psychia<\/span>trist, says this is exactly the right approach. <\/span>It\u2019s<\/span> OK<\/span> for<\/span> general<\/span> suggestions<\/span> (think: <\/span>\u201cWhat are three strategies I can use when <\/span>I get nervous about public speaking?\u201d), but <\/span>for anything that\u2019s really bothering you, it\u2019s <\/span>important to talk to a real person. <\/span><\/p>\n Chatbots <\/span>pull<\/span> information<\/span> from<\/span> all <\/span>across the internet. That means the advice <\/span>you\u2019re getting could come from a trained <\/span>professional\u2014or just some random person <\/span>on Reddit. <\/span><\/p>\n The fact is, the information AI provides <\/span>can be completely inaccurate and, in some <\/span>situations, even dangerous (as recent court <\/span>filings suggesting a link between AI and <\/span>self-harm have shown). <\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Goel emphasizes that talking to <\/span>chatbots about your problems can never <\/span>replace<\/span> talking<\/span> to<\/span> a<\/span> parent, <\/span>therapist, teacher, guidance counselor or another trusted adult. These people actually care about you\u2014unlike AI.<\/span><\/p>\n Use AI? No<\/span><\/strong>.<\/strong> While chatbots can be help<\/span>ful for general wellness tips (like ideas for <\/span>high-protein<\/span> snacks<\/span> or<\/span> healthier <\/span>menu <\/span>swaps at Starbucks), AI should *never* <\/span>replace advice from a trained dietitian or <\/span>medical doctor. <\/span><\/p>\n Think about it: Everyone\u2019s body is dif<\/span>ferent. A bot doesn\u2019t have your personal <\/span>health records, family history or body com<\/span>position, so it can\u2019t give guidance that\u2019s <\/span>truly tailored to you. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf you ask for diet or exercise advice, <\/span>what it tells you may not be appropri<\/span>ate for your age or goals, which is why <\/span>you need to ask someone who is actually <\/span>trained,\u201d Doria says. <\/span><\/p>\n Another thing to keep in mind: Chat<\/span>bots don\u2019t always update their data in <\/span>real time, so there\u2019s no way to verify that <\/span>you\u2019re getting the most current informa<\/span>tion. Just one more reason to turn to an <\/span>actual professional.<\/span><\/p>\n Use AI? Yes and no<\/span><\/strong>.<\/strong> Curious if nipple hair <\/span>is normal? Worried about a weird bump <\/span>near your vagina? For questions you don\u2019t <\/span>want to ask your parents, Doria recom<\/span>mends using Google instead of a chatbot. <\/span>That way, you can check the sources and <\/span>see where the information is coming from. <\/span><\/p>\n It definitely bears repeating: Insights <\/span>from ChatGPT and Gemini aren\u2019t always <\/span>accurate or pulled from leading experts <\/span>and do you really want to take health cues <\/span>from some random forum? <\/span><\/p>\n Just like you wouldn\u2019t trust a stranger <\/span>on the bus with your mental, physical or <\/span>emotional health, be cautious about the <\/span>advice you get from AI.<\/span><\/p>\n Use AI? Yes and no<\/span><\/strong>.<\/strong> Sure, chatbots can <\/span>give you some ideas for potential conver<\/span>sation starters, but copying and pasting <\/span>a suggested response keeps the person <\/span>on the other end from actually getting to <\/span>know you. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI was so nervous when this guy I liked <\/span>finally texted me that I asked ChatGPT to <\/span>give me a good response,\u201d says Ariana B., <\/span>16. \u201cBut my crush literally replied by ask<\/span>ing if he was messaging me or Gemini! It <\/span>was so embarrassing.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Sorry to say it, but it\u2019s pretty likely that <\/span>your crush will be able to tell who\u2019s really <\/span>behind the text bubbles. We get it: It can <\/span>be challenging to come up with something<\/span>\u00a0fun and flirty on the fly, but using <\/span>a bot\u2019s script word for word just comes <\/span>across as unnatural. <\/span><\/p>\n Bottom line? If you want to build a real <\/span>connection with someone, you need to get <\/span>comfortable with back-and-forth convos. <\/span>Plus, hello, AI isn\u2019t going to do the talking <\/span>for you on your first in-person date.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Use AI? No<\/span><\/strong>You need help with your homework.<\/span><\/h2>\n
You are feeling very depressed<\/span> and want someone to talk to<\/span>.<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/girlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/chat-gpt.jpg\")
<\/p>\nYou want help losing weight<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/h2>\n
You have an embarrassing body Q<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/h2>\n
You want to text your crush<\/span> but don’t know what to say<\/span>.<\/span><\/h2>\n
You want a new friend<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/h2>\n