AI, science and a troubled young mind 

Imagine a 17-year-old student sitting in his room, surrounded by books and science experiments. He is an intermediate student, interested in chemistry and curious about how things work.

Now imagine that the same young person is accused of trying to poison his own father.

This is the disturbing question raised by the arrest of a 17-year-old student in Bahawalpur. According to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), he allegedly tried to poison his father after a family dispute. When the first attempt reportedly failed, he allegedly turned to an artificial intelligence chatbot for further information.

The case becomes even more complicated because investigators reportedly found that the teenager was influenced by the American crime drama Breaking Bad.

So, who should we blame?

Should we blame artificial intelligence? Should we blame Walter White, the central character of Breaking Bad? Should we blame the television series itself?

Or should we ask a more important question: What happened to this young man before he reached such an extreme point?

Let us first look at AI.

Artificial intelligence has changed the way we find information. Today, we can ask a chatbot a question and receive an answer within seconds. But that power also creates a serious responsibility. If someone asks an AI system how to hurt another person, the system must refuse to provide dangerous instructions.

At the same time, we should be careful before blaming AI for the entire incident.

According to the authorities, the teenager had allegedly already attempted to harm his father before he sought further information from an AI chatbot. If that is established by the investigation, then AI may have become part of the story, but it was not necessarily where the story began.

Then there is Breaking Bad.

Many of us watch films and television dramas without copying what we see. Breaking Bad is a fictional story about Walter White, a chemistry teacher who enters the criminal world and uses his scientific knowledge for illegal activities.

The series may have influenced the teenager. That possibility should be examined. But watching a television drama does not automatically make someone violent or criminal.

Millions of people have watched Breaking Bad. They did not all become Walter White.

This brings us to the most important part of the story.

We are talking about a 17-year-old intermediate student who was reportedly interested in science.

That fact should make us look beyond the computer screen and the television screen.

What was happening inside his home?

What was the nature of his disagreement with his father?

What was he feeling?

Was he under pressure?

Was he isolated?

Did he have problems at school or at home?

Did anyone notice a change in his behaviour?

And most importantly, what made a young student think that killing his own father was an answer to his problem?

These are the questions we should be asking.

We should also remember that an interest in chemistry is not itself a warning sign. Science encourages young people to experiment, ask questions and explore the world. But when scientific experiments involve dangerous substances, young students need proper supervision and guidance.

Our homes and schools also have an important role to play. When young people are angry, confused or facing serious family problems, they need someone they can talk to. Sometimes a conversation with a parent, teacher, counsellor or another trusted adult can prevent a problem from becoming a tragedy.

This case also tells us something important about our relationship with technology.

We should ask why he wanted to search for it.

If the allegations are proved, there must be accountability. But if we only punish the young man and close the case, we may miss the bigger lesson.

We need to understand what pushed him towards the alleged act.

Was it family conflict? Was it personal pressure? Was it online influence? Was it an unhealthy fascination with crime? Was it a combination of several things?

We may find that the answer is not one single cause.

AI safety matters. Responsible use of entertainment matters. Science education matters. Parental supervision matters. But above all, our children need guidance, communication and a safe environment in which they can talk about their problems.

The real danger is not simply that a young person watched Breaking Bad or asked AI a dangerous question.

The deeper danger is when a young person reaches a point where he believes violence is the answer.

That is where we need to look first.