When discussing AI chatbots, it is important to understand the difference between AI as a tool and AI as a gateway. Many people say, “I use AI in my office. I don’t understand what the concern is.”

Aside from the fact that AI chatbots on phones do not have access to the filtering controls available on computers, there is a more fundamental difference.

Someone with general internet access on a computer uses AI for specific tasks. It serves a defined purpose. If they want the weather, they go to a weather site. If they want news, they go to a news site. AI is used when it is especially suited for a particular task. It remains one tool among many.

The dynamic changes completely when someone does not have general internet access and instead relies on a phone-based AI chatbot. In that case, the AI is no longer simply a tool. It becomes the gateway to information — their window to the world.

Weather, news, explanations, answers, and everyday curiosity all flow through the same system. Instead of turning to different sources, the person turns to the AI for everything.

This fundamentally changes the relationship. AI is no longer used occasionally. It becomes the default path to information.

As a result, interaction becomes more frequent, more expansive, and more ingrained — because it has become their window to the world.

Children use AI very differently than adults.

Children are naturally curious and inquisitive. They constantly ask questions, and many of those questions remain unanswered. AI changes that. Every question receives an immediate answer. Nothing remains open. This creates a powerful pull to continue engaging.

For teenagers, the dynamic goes further. The AI becomes an authority. It can settle arguments, validate opinions, and provide definitive answers. This increases both engagement and reliance.

Adults, by contrast, are task-focused. They use AI to accomplish specific objectives, whether for sophisticated analysis, advanced capabilities, or something simple like organizing information, editing a document, or completing a project. They approach AI with clear goals. The interaction begins when needed and ends when the task is complete. The AI remains a tool.

This is the fundamental difference. Adults use AI when they need it. Children and teenagers use it because they naturally want to.

This puts children at significantly higher risk. They begin to see AI as the answer to all of their questions, creating a powerful pull to use and trust it. They will inevitably ask questions and receive answers we would not want them to ask or receive.

Is this a machine we want our children to relate to? Is this a relationship we want them to have?

Purifone continues to expand its protections across supported devices. Their TCL models are already blocked, and the Kyocera Cadence, and Dura models will be added in the near future.

All FIG models now have AI chatbots blocked. At this time, there are reported issues with the FIG Mini, which are expected to be resolved. It is important to ensure that the phone is fully updated, including all system and app updates, for the block to function properly.

The Wonder Phone also now includes AI chatbot blocking when updated to the latest software version.

This follows the recent addition of the POM phone under the Va’ad HaKehillos framework.

We will continue to keep you updated as additional changes and protections related to AI chatbots are implemented.

Some have asked how important it is to maintain a fully up-to-date blocking list. And since they can't find one, have resorted to not doing anything. 

The core set of numbers that need to be blocked is very small. The forwarding numbers are not easily found. While anyone can create one, this is not something that can realistically be fully tracked or controlled. If a yeshiva blocks the core list on their lines, it will address the vast majority of the issue. There are lists floating around, they are a lot better than nothing.

Many offices assume that if they need access to a YouTube video, they must allow full access to YouTube. This is not the case.

Some filters allow specific YouTube channels or videos to be approved while keeping the rest of YouTube blocked. In other cases, this can be accomplished through filter configuration or other controlled methods.

Another option is to download the video using a YouTube downloader. This allows the video to be viewed without requiring any live access to YouTube.

In most cases, full YouTube access is not necessary to obtain the content that is needed.