ATLANTA — New numbers show reports of AI-generated child sex abuse material in Georgia have increased by more than 3,000%, according to an investigation by U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children says many of the cases involve offenders taking images from social media or school websites and using artificial intelligence to generate explicit material.

“Technology is advancing faster than the safeguards designed to protect children,” John Shehan with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said.

Shehan says the organization’s CyberTipline has seen more than a 3,000% increase in reports of AI-generated child sex abuse material since 2023, with those reports forwarded to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

“Those reports help law enforcement to identify victims, rescue children, and hold offenders accountable,” Shehan said.

Shehan says many of the incidents involve classmates targeting classmates.

“What can start as a single image can very quickly be transformed, spread throughout an entire school, and inflict devastating emotional damage on a child and their family,” Shehan said.

Ossoff says he has launched an investigation into the dangers artificial intelligence poses to children.

WSB Radio’s Jonathan O’Brien contributed to this story.