Science on the Hill

Science on the Hill events bring together an expert panel of scientists with U.S. lawmakers and congressional staff to address current topics. This series of events is part of Springer Nature’s commitment to being a part of progress by bringing together thought leaders in the science and political communities to discuss the most important science topics of the day.

Help or hype? How kids use tech for mental health—and what’s at stake

Artificial intelligence chatbots are no longer a novelty for U.S. teenagers. They’re a habit. A new Pew Research Center survey of teens found that 64 percent have used an AI chatbot, with more than one in four using such tools daily, and nearly one in eight using them for emotional support or advice.

The tenth annual Science on the Hill event brought together scientific experts, technology leaders, and policy staff for a conversation about how Congress and federal agencies can support innovation while protecting the public—especially young people—who increasingly rely on digital tools for support.

Discussion at the event addressed the following questions: 

  • Safety First: Even when grounded in solid behavioral science, how do we ensure AI chatbots don’t share harmful or misleading advice with people in vulnerable moments?

  • Where People Are Actually Going for Help: ChatGPT was the most popular bot among teens surveyed by a wide margin, even though those systems aren’t built or evaluated for mental‑health care. What policies can help the public understand the risks and choose safe, evidence‑based tools? 

  • Congressional Options: What policy levers—programs, incentives, regulatory approaches, or public‑private partnerships—can help ensure that digital mental‑health tools are safe, transparent, and accessible? 

  • Innovation With Guardrails: How can policymakers encourage responsible development across the private sector without slowing down promising advances that could expand access to care?


Panelists

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Cyra Alesha, Youth Fellow, The Rithm Project

Cyra Alesha is passionate in integrating technology, human connection, and education to create lasting impact. She is currently involved in the Center for Youth and AI, working on the impacts of AI on youths. She is a lifetime RISE recipient from Eric Schmidt & the Rhodes Trust, has hosted an educational television show that reaches 6 million households weekly, led free technology programs for over 1,000 youth, and partnered with UNICEF to empower youth through innovation. She is an honors student at Georgia Tech, where she is studying Industrial & Systems Engineering with a focus on Analytics & Data Science. 

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Marie A. Bragg, PhD, Associate Professor, NYU Grossman School of Medicine

Dr. Marie Bragg is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health at the NYU School of Medicine. She holds affiliate appointments in the Marketing Department at NYU Stern School of Business and in the NYU School of Global Public Health. She also serves as the Director of Research Community Development in the Office of Science and Research at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Dr. Bragg’s research examines the influence of social media and unhealthy food marketing on the health and well-being of children and adolescents. Her research team aims to provide policymakers with science that informs the development of a safer digital landscape and healthier food environment for youth.

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C. Vaile Wright, PhD, Senior Director for Health Care Innovation, American Psychological Association

Dr. Vaile Wright is the inaugural Senior Director for Health Care Innovation at the American Psychological Association, where she leads APA’s national strategy to advance the responsible use of technology and data across mental health care. A licensed psychologist, researcher, and recognized thought leader, Dr. Wright develops forwardlooking approaches to expand access, strengthen quality and measurement, improve systemlevel efficiency, and modernize how care is delivered in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. A trusted voice in federal policy, Dr. Wright has provided invited expert testimony to key government bodies, including the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy & Commerce on the role of artificial intelligence in health care, and the Food & Drug Administration’s Digital Health Advisory Committee, where she offered guidance on the oversight and impact of emerging digital health technologies.

Moderators


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David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American

David M. Ewalt is editor in chief of Scientific American. Previously he served as an editor at the Wall Street Journal, Gizmodo, Reuters and Forbes Magazine. He is author of the books Defying Reality: The Inside Story of the Virtual Reality Revolution and Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who Play It.

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Allison Parshall, Associate Editor, Scientific American

With a background in cognitive science and documentary filmmaking, Allison Parshall tells stories that ground science in the world around us. Her written and audio work weaves narratives together with empirical findings to communicate their complexity with nuance and clarity.