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

One of the hottest books in Seattle right now came out 26 years ago. Cyberselfish first hit bookstores in 2000, when new technologies seemed to be emerging every other day. Author Paulina Borsook saw another side to all that rah-rah innovation; the full title of her book is Cyberselfish: A Critical Romp through the Terribly Libertarian Culture of High Tech.

The e-book at The Seattle Public Library is tied up for months, and used copies have been hard to come by. But Cyberselfish has been reprinted and will be available again on Sept. 15.

KUOW's Katie Campbell talked to her about the book's resurgence, and why her pessimistic outlook on the tech world reads as prophetic to many readers today.

This episode discusses Microsoft and Amazon, both of which are financial supporters of KUOW.



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.

One of the hottest books in Seattle right now came out 26 years ago.&nbsp;<a href="https://thirdplacebooks.com/book/9781638935797">Cyberselfish</a> first hit bookstores in 2000, when new technologies seemed to be emerging every other day. Author Paulina Borsook saw another side to all that rah-rah innovation; the full title of her book is Cyberselfish: A Critical Romp through the Terribly Libertarian Culture of High Tech.
The e-book at The Seattle Public Library is tied up for months, and used copies have been hard to come by. But Cyberselfish has been reprinted and will be available again on Sept. 15.
KUOW's Katie Campbell talked to her about the book's resurgence, and why her pessimistic outlook on the tech world reads as prophetic to many readers today.
This episode discusses Microsoft and Amazon, both of which are financial supporters of KUOW. 
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. 
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 leave us feedback online or on the KUOW app.

One of the hottest books in Seattle right now came out 26 years ago. "Cyberselfish" first hit bookstores in 2000, when new technologies seemed to be emerging every other day. The book is enjoying a Renaissance now. The paperback will be available again on Sept. 15.

Pessimist or prophet? A decades-old critique of big tech is back on bookshelves

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

First, people who live in the San Juan Islands in northwest Washington state enjoy a uniquely remote way of life. But their separation from the mainland can be a problem when it comes to getting timely health care.

Next, as the weather gets cooler, now may be a good time to prepare for the next heat wave. If you’ve made it this far with minimal A-C – we’ve got some tips to keep you going strong.

And finally, opioid addiction is one of the most devastating health crises facing our communities. Now, researchers in the Pacific Northwest are harnessing the power of the immune system to give people a better chance of recovery.

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.
First, people who live in the San Juan Islands in northwest Washington state enjoy a uniquely remote way of life. But their separation from the mainland <a href="https://www.kuow.org/health/2026-09-03/san-juan-islands-residents-brave-ferry-lines-medevacs-to-get-to-the-doctor">can be a problem when it comes to getting timely health care.</a>
Next, as the weather gets cooler, now may be a good time to prepare for the next heat wave. If you&rsquo;ve made it this far with minimal A-C &ndash; <a href="https://www.kuow.org/environment/2026-09-09/three-cheap-ways-to-stay-cool-in-seattle-without-a-c">we&rsquo;ve got some tips to keep you going strong.</a>
And finally, opioid addiction is one of the most devastating health crises facing our communities. Now, researchers in the Pacific Northwest <a href="https://www.opb.org/article/2026/09/10/all-science-no-fiction-vaccines-to-prevent-opioid-overdose/">are harnessing the power of the immune system to give people a better chance of recovery.</a>
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, people who live in the San Juan Islands in northwest Washington state enjoy a uniquely remote way of life. But their separation from the mainland can be a problem when it comes to getting timely health care.  Next, as the weather gets cooler, now may be a good time to prepare for the next heat wave. If you’ve made it this far with minimal A-C – we’ve got some tips to keep you going strong.  And finally, opioid addiction is one of the most devastating health crises facing our communities. Now, researchers in the Pacific Northwest are harnessing the power of the immune system to give people a better chance of recovery.

San Juan Islands residents brave ferry lines, medevacs to get to the doctor, ways to stay cool in Seattle without A/C, Northwest researchers develop vaccines to prevent opioid overdose and support addiction recovery

Seattle leaders honor 9/11 victims and first responders, WA heat deaths last year may be four times higher than CDC numbers, and speed cameras are coming to three Seattle locations in 2027.

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.

Seattle leaders <a href="https://www.kuow.org/governing/2026-09-11/seattle-city-leaders-honor-9-11-victims-first-responders-on-25th-anniversary">honor</a> 9/11 victims and first responders, WA heat deaths last year may be <a href="https://www.kuow.org/climate/2026-09-10/heat-deaths-in-washington-state-last-year-may-be-four-times-as-high-as-records-show">four times higher</a> than CDC numbers, and speed cameras are coming to three Seattle locations in 2027.
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>

Seattle leaders honor 9/11 victims and first responders, WA heat deaths last year may be four times higher than CDC numbers, and speed cameras are coming to three Seattle locations in 2027.

AI companions can befriend teens and affect their development

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