Artificial Intelligence and School-Age Children

It feels like artificial intelligence (AI) is being pushed everywhere. Increasingly, this includes children's media, entertainment and how children are being encouraged to engage with technology. While there is limited data on how many children are using AI directly, early studies suggest that roughly 30% of school age children do, and that number will likely increase.

Two questions that might arise from this trend are:

How are children engaging with AI products?

How are they being affected by use?

In order to give parents, caregivers and others a better understanding of AI's effects on children, Arapahoe Libraries will be hosting a presentation from researcher and technological ethicist Dr. Casey Fiesler. The presentation will be held on September 30th, from 6-7:30 pm at Smoky Hill Library. To learn more about Dr. Fiesler and read some of her work on AI as well as other challenging technology issues, check out her website, opens a new window. 

Online resources

Here are a few resources that might be of use and interest if you would like to explore more about how kids are interacting with AI, and how it's affecting them.

• NPR's Learning in the Age of AI Series, opens a new window     
  • A diverse series of articles, essays and reports from NPR on how AI is being implemented in education, and what effects it's having. 
• AI is here – and everywhere: 3 AI researchers look to the challenges ahead in 2024, opens a new window     
  • A slightly older article from the Conversation, interviewing Dr. Feisler and two other technology researchers on AI proliferation. It's still very relevant in assessing AI trends, and having a grounded understanding of AI implementation for the public.
• Examining children's perceptions of AI-enabled interactive media characters, opens a new window     
  • Abstract and excerpts from the International Journal of Child-Computer Interactions, examining the effect of AI enabled interactive characters in animation, and what effects it's having.
• Generative Artificial Intelligence Applications Use Among US Youth, opens a new window     
  • A recent study looking at: how many children are using AI, which products they're using and what they're using them for.
• Parents Think They Know How Their Children Are Using AI: They Don't, opens a new window     
  • An article from the BBC, which features children's perspectives on AI use and how they're talking to their parents about it.