Young people are increasingly using AI companions.

They can be useful, up to a point.

AI companions are designed to keep young people engaged.

We’ll talk about the risks and benefits with UW professors and co-directors of the Center for Digital Youth Dr. Katie Davis and Dr. Alexis Hiniker.

We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.

Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.

Young people are increasingly using AI companions.
They can be useful, up to a point.
AI companions are designed to keep young people engaged.
We&rsquo;ll talk about the risks and benefits with UW professors and co-directors of the Center for Digital Youth Dr. Katie Davis and Dr. Alexis Hiniker.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or<a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback"> leave us feedback online</a>.

Seattle Now is KUOW's flagship daily news podcast. Seattle Now brings you quick headlines, smart analysis, and award-winning local news. New episodes every weekday morning and afternoon. Start and end your day with Seattle Now, from KUOW and the NPR Network.

Seattle Now is KUOW's flagship daily news podcast. Seattle Now brings you quick headlines, smart analysis, and award-winning local news. New episodes every weekday morning and afternoon. Start and end your day with Seattle Now, from KUOW and the NPR Network.

Seattle Now

Young people are increasingly using AI companions.  They can be useful, up to a point.  AI companions are designed to keep young people engaged.  We’ll talk about the risks and benefits with UW professors and co-directors of the Center for Digital Youth Dr. Katie Davis and Dr. Alexis Hiniker.

AI companions can befriend teens and affect their development

Today, we’re bringing you the best from the KUOW Newsroom…

First, the Trump administration is trying to bring back the presidential fitness test. But PE teachers in Washington state are largely ignoring it.

Next, scientists are traveling all around Washington to figure out exactly what fish are living in rivers and streams. They’re using some high tech equipment to search out even the most “underloved” freshwater fish. 

And finally, in the middle school that bears her name, Holocaust survivor Carla Peperzak celebrated her 103rd birthday last week.

We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. 

Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

Today, we&rsquo;re bringing you the best from the KUOW Newsroom&hellip;
First, the Trump administration is trying to bring back the presidential fitness test. But PE teachers <a href="https://www.kuow.org/education/2026-11-12/trump-wants-to-bring-back-fitness-testing-seattle-area-pe-teachers-not-so-much">in Washington state are largely ignoring it.</a>
Next, scientists are traveling all around Washington to figure out exactly what fish are living in rivers and streams. They&rsquo;re using some high tech equipment to <a href="https://www.nwpb.org/local/2026-11-06/how-washington-scientists-are-mapping-fish-shellfish-in-a-river-near-you">search out even the most &ldquo;underloved&rdquo; freshwater fish.</a>&nbsp;
And finally, in the middle school that bears her name, Holocaust survivor Carla Peperzak celebrated her 103rd birthday last week.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. <a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at <a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or <a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">leave us feedback online</a> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</a>

Today, we’re bringing you the best from the KUOW Newsroom… First, the Trump administration is trying to bring back the presidential fitness test. But PE teachers in Washington state are largely ignoring it. Next, scientists are traveling all around Washington to figure out exactly what fish are living in rivers and streams. They’re using some high tech equipment to search out even the most “underloved” freshwater fish.  And finally, in the middle school that bears her name, Holocaust survivor Carla Peperzak celebrated her 103rd birthday last week.

Trump wants to bring back fitness testing, but Seattle-area PE teachers, not so much; how Washington scientists are mapping fish, shellfish in a river near you; Holocaust survivor Carla Peperzak celebrates her 103rd birthday

Flights grounded at Sea-Tac and all U.S. airports, Microsoft says service outage wasn't caused by AI or cyberattack, and Orcas Island deals with truck shutdown on ferries.

It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning.

We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. 

Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

Flights <a href="https://www.kuow.org/governing/2026-11-13/flights-halted-at-airports-across-us-due-to-unspecified-extraordinary-circumstances-faa-says">grounded</a> at Sea-Tac and all U.S. airports, Microsoft says service outage <a href="https://www.kuow.org/technology/2026-11-13/microsoft-says-outage-not-caused-by-ai-or-cyber-attack">wasn't caused</a> by AI or cyberattack, and Orcas Island deals with <a href="https://www.kuow.org/governing/2026-11-12/stalled-groceries-stopped-garbage-orcas-island-deals-with-truck-shutdown-on-ferries">truck shutdown on ferries</a>.
It&rsquo;s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us.&nbsp;<a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or <a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">leave us feedback online</a> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</a>

Flights grounded at Sea-Tac and all U.S. airports, Microsoft says service outage wasn't caused by AI or cyberattack, and Orcas Island deals with truck shutdown on ferries.

Friday Evening Headlines

This week...

The Seattle Times has been counting down its top 50 restaurants in the city, and we’ve got two food reviewers to talk about their process.

Plus, could a local, scaled-down food delivery app be the solution to Seattle’s high delivery fees?

And who deserves to represent Washington state on its commemorative $1 coin?

Seattle Times Food Writer Tan Vinh and Seattle Met Editor Naomi Tomky are here to break down the week.

We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. 

Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.

This week...
The Seattle Times has been counting down its top 50 restaurants in the city, and we&rsquo;ve got two food reviewers to talk about their process.
Plus, could a local, scaled-down food delivery app be the solution to Seattle&rsquo;s high delivery fees?
And who deserves to represent Washington state on its commemorative $1 coin?
Seattle Times Food Writer Tan Vinh and Seattle Met Editor Naomi Tomky are here to break down the week.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. <a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at <a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or <a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">leave us feedback online</a> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</a>

This week...  The Seattle Times has been counting down its top 50 restaurants in the city, and we’ve got two food reviewers to talk about their process.  Plus, could a local, scaled-down food delivery app be the solution to Seattle’s high delivery fees?  And who deserves to represent Washington state on its commemorative $1 coin?  Seattle Times Food Writer Tan Vinh and Seattle Met Editor Naomi Tomky are here to break down the week.

AI companions can befriend teens and affect their development

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