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Child Mind Institute Launches Research Initiative To Inform Safer AI Systems for Youth

New project will develop tools to study youth mental health during AI chatbot use

New York, NY — Today, the Child Mind Institute announced a new research initiative, launched with support from the OpenAI Foundation, to build the research infrastructure needed to measure and better understand youth mental health while using AI chatbots and over time. The effort aims to identify valid markers that can inform the design and testing of safer AI systems.

Millions of children in the United States are struggling with mental health or learning challenges, yet there continues to be a dire shortage of qualified mental health professionals. That, along with stigma and misinformation about mental health, is pushing young people to explore using readily available, often free AI tools for support, including general-purpose chatbots, digital companions, or “therapy bots.”

Novel and emerging digital technologies are shaping mental health faster than the pace of science and the development of evidence-based care can keep up. This new initiative will help advance research studying the impact of these tools and better support youth mental health.

“As the leading nonprofit dedicated to improving youth mental health through science, education, and care, the Child Mind Institute is well positioned to help tackle the key issues affecting the well-being of young people, including technology and the proliferation of AI. It is our belief that with appropriate safeguards and evidence, digital tools may complement care from trained clinicians,” said Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, president and medical director at the Child Mind Institute. “We are excited about filling a gap that currently exists in the research of AI tools and to work toward creating a safer online experience for youth around the globe.”

Using clinical assessments, digital journals, de-identified AI chat histories, real-time behavioral measures, and existing youth mental health datasets, the Child Mind Institute will build an infrastructure to better understand interactions between youth users and AI conversational platforms. With the goal of strengthening our understanding of the mental state in AI chatbot interactions, this initial one-year project will enable the research team to identify and begin scaling the signals needed to meaningfully assess and monitor youth mental health alongside their use of AI tools.

The Child Mind Institute has long been committed to advancing technologies that make mental health research and care more precise, measurable, and connected to real-world settings. Grounded in science and focused on impact, the organization brings together scientific rigor, clinical expertise, and product development experience to build digital tools that accelerate research, improve care, and expand access without compromising safety, quality, or accountability.

“Many of our youth are turning to AI chatbots for important areas of their lives — and mental health is no exception. It is our responsibility to more holistically comprehend the impact of these tools on mental health, both in the long and short term,” said Michael P. Milham, MD, PhD, chief science officer at the Child Mind Institute. “Digital platforms provide an opportunity to rethink the way we conduct mental health research, but they also introduce new challenges and risks. It is critical to better understand the relationship between AI use and youth mental health, and to examine whether, and under what conditions, AI tools can strengthen evidence-based care, support clinician training, and expand access to high-quality mental health services.”

This research initiative is being independently developed and solely executed by the Child Mind Institute. To ensure the safety and security of all study participants, it will be conducted with strong privacy protections, informed consent, ethical oversight, and careful data governance. The project will be co-designed by its principal investigators, Gregory Kiar, PhD, Arno Klein, PhD, and Dr. Milham, who bring expertise in computational methods, digital measurement, clinical science, and youth mental health. Consistent with the Child Mind Institute’s open science philosophy, all data will be shared to help fuel discovery across the field.

About the Child Mind Institute

The Child Mind Institute is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. Through cutting-edge research, evidence-based clinical care, and public education, the Child Mind Institute builds open science platforms and digital tools to accelerate discovery and improve youth mental health worldwide.

For press questions, contact cmiscience@ssmandl.com or mediaoffice@childmind.org.

The post Child Mind Institute Launches Research Initiative To Inform Safer AI Systems for Youth appeared first on Child Mind Institute.

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The Download: NASA’s new space telescope and OpenAI’s autonomous hacker

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.

Shape-shifting mirrors on NASA’s new space telescope could unveil Jupiters like our own

When NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launches, as early as the end of next month, it will attempt one of astronomy’s most precise disappearing acts to date. It will carry the first space-bound “active” coronagraph, an instrument that effectively erases most of the light from a star during photography.

The technology will allow astronomers to take the first pictures of planets orbiting other stars that are similar to those in our solar system. Ultimately, it could pave the way for a future mission that could snap the first photos of Earth-like worlds.

“I hope it’s remembered for it being that critical stepping stone for … finding Earth 2.0,” says Brandon Creager, the instrument’s lead mechanical engineer.

Read the full story on the space telescope that could transform the search for distant planets.

—Eshan Raul

MIT Technology Review Narrated: PsiQuantum has a plan to make a massive quantum computer out of light

The machine that could change the world will be housed in a room that looks like a data center crossed with an ice cream factory. 

Inside, some 100 stainless-steel cabinets each hold hundreds of chips. On those chips, thousands of light particles will fly through a maze of optical switches and beam splitters. Each photon must be accounted for, because precisely measuring where it ends up will help answer questions that current computers might take millions of years to solve.

This computer, as described, does not exist. It’s the brainchild of a company called PsiQuantum, founded in 2016 by four physicists from UK universities. In a crowded field of deep-pocketed competitors with similarly fantastical visions, the company aims to be the first to build a useful quantum machine.

—James O’Donnell


This is our latest story to be turned into an MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, which we publish each week on Spotifyand Apple Podcasts. Just navigate to MIT Technology Review Narrated on either platform, and follow us to get all our new content as it’s released.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 OpenAI says one of its models carried out an autonomous hack
It escaped its testing sandbox and breached AI research platform Hugging Face. (Reuters $)
+ OpenAI described it as a cybersecurity test that went badly wrong. (WSJ $)
+ The hack is among the first known cyberattacks by an AI acting on its own. (FT $)
+ Even simple AI attacks are cause for alarm, though. (MIT Technology Review)

2 France has become the first EU country to ban social media for under-15s
Its parliament approved the ban, which President Macron championed. (NYT $)
+ He pledged to enforce it by September, the start of the school year. (Guardian)
+ But critics say it’s unconstitutional and impossible to enforce. (NPR)

3 The US and China will hold talks over AI in September
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will lead the US side. (Reuters $)
+ Chinese models have Trump’s AI world at war with itself. (MIT Technology Review)

4 Publishers are considering cutting Google off as AI reshapes search
News outlets are weighing lost traffic against AI exposure. (WSJ $)

5 Samsung is in talks to invest €1 billion in Mistral
The French AI firm is positioning itself as an alternative to US models. (FT $)
+ It’s Europe’s leading AI firm, but US peers dwarf its $20 billion valuation. (Reuters $)

6 Amazon pushed up rivals’ prices, leaked records allege
Internal emails reveal tactics that allegedly reshaped online pricing. (Guardian)

7 Trump has tapped a Big Tech critic to lead the DOJ’s antitrust division
Adam Candeub has called for tougher federal competition enforcement. (FT $)

8 New drilling methods could unlock geothermal energy almost anywhere
They aim to unlock Earth’s enormous heat reserves. (New Scientist $)
+ AI is uncovering hidden geothermal energy resources. (MIT Technology Review)

9 AI researchers have proposed a “Genie coefficient” for measuring AI risks
It would track the gap between intent and action. (IEEE Spectrum)
+ We need better ways to evaluate AI. (MIT Technology Review)

10 Japan’s AI boom has two unlikely winners: a toilet maker and an MSG giant
They’re supplying critical chipmaking materials. (CNBC)

Quote of the day

“He’s an analog man in a digital AI world, and I think that’s incredibly appealing.”

—Paul Dergarabedian, a movie industry analyst at Comscore, tells Fortune that Christopher Nolan’s commitment to human filmmaking provides an attractive counterweight to Hollywood’s embrace of AI.

One More Thing

""

DANA SMITH


Taiwan’s “silicon shield” could be weakening

Taiwan produces the majority of the world’s semiconductors and more than 90% of the most advanced chips needed for AI applications. Many believe that’s helped deter China from invading the island. But now some Taiwan specialists and citizens are worried that this “silicon shield” is cracking.

Facing pressure from Washington, TSMC—the world’s largest chipmaker—is expanding manufacturing abroad. In Taiwan, there are worries that this will dilute the company’s power at home, making the US and other countries less inclined to defend the island.

Find out why Taiwan’s chipmaking dominance could be key to its future security.

—Johanna M. Costigan

We can still have nice things

A place for comfort, fun, and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.)

+ Thrifty filmmakers have masterfully recreated Star Wars on a $10 budget.
+ A man discovered squirrels hug and kiss their loved ones in the privacy of their homes.
+ Toronto’s floating waterfront store is reimagining one of the most familiar spaces across cultures.
+ These animations of Sesame Street characters performing classic tracks like Underworld’s “Born Slippy” will brighten up your day.

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Integration of imaging and clinical biomarkers for cerebral infarction diagnosis via NeuroFusionNet

BackgroundCerebral infarction remains a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability worldwide, demanding rapid and accurate diagnostic strategies. However, current assessments primarily rely on imaging interpretation, often neglecting valuable clinical and laboratory information that could enhance diagnostic precision.MethodsWe developed NeuroFusionNet, a multi-modal deep learning framework that integrates imaging features with clinical biomarkers for binary classification of cerebral infarction and healthy controls. The model combines a ResNet-based visual encoder with a multilayer perceptron branch for clinical indicators, achieving end-to-end feature fusion and joint optimization.ResultsNeuroFusionNet achieved superior diagnostic performance with an accuracy of 0.9655, precision of 0.9584, recall of 0.9584, and F1-score of 0.9584, significantly outperforming baseline models including ResNet, MobileNet, and GhostNet. The integration of imaging and clinical biomarkers effectively enhanced model sensitivity and robustness, demonstrating strong potential for real-world clinical application.ConclusionOur findings highlight the clinical value of integrating imaging and laboratory data for precision diagnosis of cerebral infarction. NeuroFusionNet provides a scalable and interpretable framework that may support early detection and personalized management of cerebrovascular diseases in routine clinical practice.
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High-altitude hypoxia alters the developmental trajectory of working memory in Tibetan children

BackgroundVerbal working memory (WM) undergoes rapid development during school age, yet the impact of high-altitude hypoxia on this trajectory remains unclear. We propose two distinct models: the simple additive model, which posits that hypoxia imposes a uniform impairment independent of age, preserving developmental gains; the developmental trajectory reconfiguration model, which posits that hypoxia alters the typical age-related progression of WM. To test these models and explore related physiological factors, we examined WM performance and blood pressure (BP) in school-aged children across different altitudes.MethodsA 2 × 3 between-subjects design was used, involving 535 Zang (Tibetan) students (273 fourth graders, 262 eighth graders) from three altitudes (2,200, 3,200, and 4,200 m) in Qinghai, China. WM was assessed using the Digit Span Backward (DSB) task, and BP was measured with a wrist-type electronic sphygmomanometer.ResultsWe found a significant main effect of altitude on WM [F(2,529)=34.18,p<0.001,ηp2=0.11], indicating that WM in children declined markedly at altitudes around 4,200m. A significant grade-by-altitude interaction was also observed [F(2,529)=5.38,p=0.005,ηp2=0.02]. Model comparison favored the developmental trajectory restructuring model over the simple additive model [LRT:χ2(2)=10.77,p=0.005], supporting the hypothesis that high-altitude hypoxia alters the WM developmental trajectory. Further moderated regression analysis revealed a significant three-way interaction among grade, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and altitude [ΔR2 = 0.01, F(2,512) = 3.73, p = 0.025], suggesting that the moderating effect of DBP on WM development is altitude-dependent. Simple slope analysis showed that at 2,200 and 3,200 m, eighth graders outperformed fourth graders in WM only when DBP was at low or mean levels; at 4,200m, no significant grade differences were observed regardless of DBP level.ConclusionHigh-altitude hypoxia alters the developmental trajectory of verbal WM in Tibetan children, as evidenced by the disappearance of the typical grade advantage at higher altitudes and the altitude-dependent moderating role of DBP. These findings support the developmental trajectory reconfiguration model and highlight the physiological relevance of blood pressure in altitude-related cognitive development.
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Integration of laryngeal and cardiorespiratory control by the dorsomedial and perifornical hypothalamus in anaesthetised rats

The dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus and perifornical area (DMH/PeF), historically identified as the hypothalamic defence area, plays a key role in orchestrating autonomic and respiratory adjustments during threat-related states. To investigate how activation of this region affects upper-airway and respiratory motor circuits, we examined its anatomical and functional interactions with laryngeal-related medullary nuclei using combined immunohistochemical mapping and physiological recordings in spontaneously breathing anaesthetised rats. Neuronal activation was assessed using c-Fos immunohistochemistry (c-Fos-ir) combined with ChAT and FoxP2 labelling to identify motoneurons and non-motoneuronal populations across the compact, semicompact and loose formations of the nucleus ambiguus (nA), as well as within the nucleus retroambiguus (nRA), during DMH/PeF electrical stimulation. Hypothalamic activation produced a clear subdivision-specific recruitment in the nA, with significant ipsilateral increases in c-Fos-ir within the semicompact (motoneurons, p < 0.001; non-motoneurons, p < 0.05) and compact formations (non-motoneurons, p < 0.05). The nRA also exhibited robust ipsilateral activation (non-motoneurons, p < 0.001). FoxP2-positive neurons remained stable across groups, indicating that FoxP2 reflects neuronal phenotype rather than acute activation. A second set of experiments evaluated the functional impact of electrical and chemical (glutamate) DMH/PeF activation on subglottic pressure, an index of laryngeal resistance. Both stimulation modalities produced a marked reduction in subglottic pressure (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01), accompanied by a reproducible autonomic–respiratory pattern characterised by tachypnoea, tachycardia and a pressor response. Overall, our results provide new insight into how hypothalamic circuits regulate subglottic pressure and laryngeal activity, suggesting that DMH/PeF activation is associated with the recruitment of specific nA and nRA domains, which may contribute to the adjustment of upper-airway patency during defensive responses.
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Safety of transcutaneous electrical stimulation potentiating recovery in acute spinal cord injury syndromes: a trial protocol

Background and objectivesSpinal cord injury (SCI) often results in permanent paralysis, leading to substantial long-term disability and loss of quality-adjusted life years. Strategies to preserve neural function in the hyperacute phase are needed. Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) improves neurological function in chronic SCI. Earlier implementation in acute SCI may preserve or restore function and improve recovery.MethodsSTEP-RAISE is a Phase 1/2 prospective clinical trial evaluating the safety and preliminary efficacy of tSCS in acute moderate-to-severe traumatic SCI. Electrical current will be delivered to the lumbosacral spinal cord using the investigational ARC-Ex device (ONWARD Medical) via surface electrodes over the thoracolumbar region. Phase 2 is a randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled trial designed to assess treatment effects. Safety outcomes include hemodynamics, spinal cord perfusion pressure, and skin reactions. Efficacy will be assessed using the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) examination with electromyography at baseline, during stimulation, and at 6-month follow-up. Biomarkers include neuronal (UCH-L1) and glial (GFAP) markers and exploratory proteomics in blood and cerebrospinal fluid collected prior to stimulation and at discharge.DiscussionThe STEP-RAISE trial evaluates safety and preliminary efficacy of non-invasive tSCS initiated within 72 h of SCI to improve sensorimotor recovery. Neurophysiological and patient-reported outcomes will characterize recovery and assess whether early tSCS augments functional recovery. This study is designed to estimate treatment effects and inform subsequent trials in acute SCI. Planned enrollment includes 5 participants in Phase 1 and 10 in Phase 2.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrial.gov: NCT07090473; first posted on 07/29/2025, first open to enrollment 04/2026. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07090473
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Using cortical auditory-evoked potential responses to verify the objective benefit of aural rehabilitation in adult cochlear implant users

IntroductionCortical auditory-evoked potential (CAEP) responses are used clinically to assess auditory processing and support cochlear implant (CI) mapping procedures post-implantation. This study aims to examine CAEP responses as an objective measure of neurophysiological changes following a structured Aural Rehabilitation Program (ARP) in long-term adult CI users, with poor baseline speech perception performance. Advancing our understanding of the mechanisms underlying improved post-implantation outcomes in poor performing CI users may inform the development of targeted interventions and refinement of evidence-based rehabilitation strategies.MethodsAdult unilateral CI users with post-lingual deafness were recruited for an intensive clinician-directed ARP incorporating structured active listening exercises. The ARP consisted of weekly 1-h face-to-face sessions over 10 weeks with repeated assessments at baseline (T0) and 10-week intervals (T10, T20, T30). Participants were allocated to immediate (Group 1), 10-week delay (Group 2), or 20-week delay (Group 3) ARP groups, while a control group completed assessments without intensive ARP. Speech perception in quiet [CNC phoneme and word scores (%)] and electrically-evoked CAEP (eCAEP) response [P1-N1-P2 peak latencies (ms) and amplitudes (μV)] measures were collected at each time point for all groups. The repeated measures design incorporated staggered pre- and post-ARP periods for Groups 1–3 (T0-T10, T10-T20, and T20-T30, respectively). CNC and eCAEP measures were analyzed pre- and post-ARP intervention and across assessment intervals (T0-T30) to evaluate rehabilitation effects and account for natural variability and potential ongoing adaptation in auditory performance over time, independent of ARP-related changes.ResultsNo significant changes were observed in eCAEP response latencies or amplitudes from pre- to post-rehabilitation. However, the ARP intervention group demonstrated significantly higher CNC phoneme and word recognition scores compared to the control group in both implant-alone and binaural listening conditions post-rehabilitation.DiscussionNo measurable neurophysiological changes were observed in eCAEP responses from pre- to post-rehabilitation. However, the ARP intervention group demonstrated behavioral improvements, reflected in marginal increases in speech perception scores at both phoneme and word recognition levels, which were not observed in the control group. These findings highlight the clinical value of structured aural rehabilitation in supporting improved outcomes for long-term adult CI users with poor baseline performance.
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Mechanisms underlying the association between perceived recurrence risk and negative emotions in patients with ischemic stroke: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveTo examine the relationships among perceived risk of recurrence, attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, negative emotions, and family care in patients with ischemic stroke, and to test a moderated mediation model. The findings aim to provide a scientific basis for optimizing clinical psychological interventions and family support strategies.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 311 patients with ischemic stroke recruited from three tertiary hospitals in Sichuan Province, China. Data were collected using validated scales measuring perceived recurrence risk, help-seeking attitudes, negative emotions, and family care. Mediation and moderated mediation analyses were performed using SPSS 27.0 and PROCESS macro (Models 4 and 58), with 5, 000 bootstrap resamples to estimate 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsPerceived recurrence risk was positively associated with negative emotions (β = 0.350, p < 0.001). Attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help partially mediated this association, with a significant indirect effect (effect = 0.131, 95% CI: 0.082–0.192), accounting for 40.68% of the total effect. Family care moderated both paths of the mediation model. In the first stage, family care moderated the association between perceived recurrence risk and help-seeking attitudes (β = 0.043, p = 0.001), such that higher family care weakened the negative association. In the second stage, family care moderated the association between help-seeking attitudes and negative emotions (β = −0.075, p = 0.008), indicating that higher family care strengthened the protective association between help-seeking attitudes and lower negative emotions.ConclusionPerceived recurrence risk, help-seeking attitudes, and negative emotions are significantly associated in patients with ischemic stroke. Help-seeking attitudes partially explain this association, while family care plays a significant moderating role in both stages. These findings highlight the importance of psychological and family-centered support in stroke rehabilitation. However, causal interpretations should be made cautiously due to the cross-sectional design.
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Effects of visual art therapy on depressive symptoms in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the intervention effects of visual art therapy on depressive symptoms in adults, and to examine its impact on anxiety symptoms.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in databases including CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase from inception to March 2026. Randomized controlled trials were included in which visual art therapy was used to intervene in depressive symptoms among adults (≥18 years).Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 18.0 software.The primary outcome was depressive symptoms, measured by scales such as the BDI, GDS, HADS-D, and SDS, and the secondary outcome was anxiety symptoms, measured by scales such as the BAI, HADS-A, and SAS. Fixed-effect or random-effect models were selected according to the level of heterogeneity, and subgroup analyses were conducted.ResultsA total of 12 randomized controlled trials involving 741 adults were included, with 377 participants in the intervention group and 364 in the control group.The meta-analysis showed that visual art therapy effectively alleviated depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.81, 95% CI: -1.16 to -0.46, P < 0.00001) and anxiety symptoms (SMD = -0.69, 95% CI: -0.90 to -0.48, P < 0.00001) in adults.Subgroup analyses indicated that interventions with a duration of <12 weeks, <12 sessions in total, and a single-session length of ≤60 minutes were associated with larger effect sizes for the improvement of depressive symptoms; improvements in anxiety symptoms were more pronounced in intervention protocols characterized by higher frequency (>12 sessions), shorter overall duration (≤6 weeks), and shorter single-session length (≤60 minutes).ConclusionAs a non-pharmacological intervention, VAT has potential as an adjunctive approach for alleviating depressive and anxiety symptoms in adults.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261371354, identifier CRD420261371354.