AI Safety for Families: Dos, Don'ts, and National Safety Month Tips

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Hey there, {{first_name | friend}},

Any guesses what my first instinct was when a PR team reached out asking me to be a spokesperson for Cox Communications and take part in their satellite media tour?

If you guessed I went straight to AI to ask if it was a scam, you’d be right! I grabbed a screenshot of the message in total disbelief and uploaded it to Claude.

But to my shock, it was legit.

The irony is that this is the exact message they wanted to share with families in honor of National Safety Month: if you receive something that feels too good to be true, stop, verify, and ask for help.

The tour was one of the most exciting and exhausting professional experiences I've had since launching AI-Empowered Mom. I woke up at 4:30AM, sat down in a live studio here in Austin at 6:15AM, and spent the better part of a morning doing 23 back-to-back interviews with radio and TV stations across the country. The topic: AI literacy and online safety for families.

The interviews are expected to reach hundreds of thousands of people. I’m still pinching myself. And now I want to share some of the highlights from those conversations with you, {{first_name | friend}}.

AI Safety: My Top Dos And Don’ts

June is National Safety Month, and AI safety is now a big part of that conversation. Here's what I shared with families across the country:

Do:

Talk about AI across all generations. This isn't just a conversation for teenagers or tech-savvy adults. Grandparents, young kids, and everyone in between are encountering AI every day. Make it a family topic that everyone is involved in.
“Stop, verify, and ask for help” when something feels off. If a message, image, or request seems strange or urgent, pause. Ask a trusted person. AI-generated scams and phishing attempts, arriving in our emails and text messages, are getting harder to spot every day.
Establish a family safe word. Deepfake audio and video technology has made it possible to clone voices convincingly. A simple, private safe word that only your family knows can be a powerful safeguard if anyone ever receives a suspicious call or message that sounds like you.
Get familiar with your mobile provider's safety tools. Most carriers, like Cox, offer spam filters, privacy settings, and parental controls that many families don't know exist. Take 10 minutes to explore what's already available to you.

Don't:

Share family details in free AI tools. Many free versions of AI tools are funded by your data. What you type in can be used to train models, including in health, financial, or personal details you share. Treat the free tier like a public space, because in many ways, it is.
Treat AI like a true confidante. AI tools can feel warm, responsive, and understanding. That's by design. But they are products, not people, and the boundaries matter, especially when it comes to what you share and what your kids share. When you need a friend or want to share something personal, reach out to a human connection.
Be embarrassed to ask for help. Online safety can feel overwhelming, and none of us were taught this in school. Reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or resource. Asking questions is the smartest thing you can do.

Want more resources to help with AI safety conversations with teens or seniors, or tips for the sandwich generation? Check out the research:

Get the full online safety report here

AI Safety in the News

Three stories worth reading this month:

The Pope weighs in. In a rare and notable move, Pope Leo XIV released an encyclical on AI, addressing its implications for human dignity, truth, and society. Whatever your faith background, it's a thoughtful read from a voice not typically heard in this space. Browse the full encyclical here (skip to #97 to get straight to AI)

Florida sues OpenAI. The state of Florida has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging the company concealed serious risks associated with ChatGPT especially when it comes to children. This is part of a growing wave of legal and regulatory scrutiny that parents and caregivers should be watching. Read the full story here

The White House weighs in on AI security. On June 2nd, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to work with AI companies on cybersecurity. The order establishes a voluntary framework allowing AI developers to give the government early access to new models for up to 30 days before wider release, with the goal of assessing security risks. Read more here

Curious what I actually said on air in the AI safety interviews this week? Watch one of the clips below and share it with someone in your life who could use this message.

Interview: AI tips for families

More interviews will be airing on stations across the country all month long, and I’ll be sharing on Instagram.

Until next time,

Sarah

P.S. This week’s podcast guest, Toni Toomey, founder of Hone, has her own AI safety message. Skip ahead to 26:15 to hear her thoughts on how parents should learn everything they can about AI but not give kids unfettered access to it (she’s waiting until age 13 for her daughter). And Toni is currently in the running for America’s Supermom! Support her by voting for free here!

This edition includes sponsored amplification of Sarah's partnership with Cox Mobile for National Safety Month. All safety recommendations reflect Sarah's own views and areas of expertise.

I’m Sarah, mom of 3 girls, MBA, and AI strategist. I created AI-Empowered Mom to share practical, responsible ways AI can help lighten the mental load of parenthood. I’m so glad you’re here.