Educational psychologists are studying how generative AI tools such as ChatGPT can be used safely and effectively, and how they can support social and emotional learning in children and adolescents, according to the American Psychological Association.
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“In many ways, K–12 schools are at the forefront of figuring out practical, operational ways to use AI, because they have to,” says Andrew Martin, PhD, a professor of educational psychology and chair of the educational psychology research group at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.
One question should always be at the forefront, says educational psychologist Ally Skoog-Hoffman: “How are we using AI and technology as tools to elevate the conditions and the experiences of education for students without sacrificing the human connection that we absolutely know is integral to learning?”
Psychologists have studied human–technology interaction for decades. Now research seeks to understand how people, including children, interact with chatbots and other virtual agents.
“How are kids forming a relationship with these AIs, what does that look like, and how might that impact the ability of AIs to teach?” asks David Bickham, PhD, a health communication researcher based at Boston Children’s Hospital.
In a series of qualitative studies, Randi Williams, PhD, and her colleagues found that children viewed agents with a more humanlike and emotive voice as friendlier and more intelligent. But how to study and foster such relationships while protecting the safety and privacy of minors remains a major question.
Use of generative AI is already widespread among adolescents. Of the 7 in 10 who reported using at least one such tool in a 2024 Common Sense Media survey of 1,045 teenagers ages 13 to 18, homework help was the most common use. About half of those who used generative AI for schoolwork had permission from a teacher. A similar number checked the veracity of generative AI outputs using outside sources, suggesting that many students are aware of the fallibility of such tools.
“Teens have quite a sophisticated and nuanced view of AI,” says Beck Tench, PhD, an information scientist based at the Center for Digital Thriving. “They report that they feel conflicted and are having just as many excitements and concerns as we do as adults,” including worries about misinformation, awareness that it will change their work prospects, and enthusiasm about its potential to advance science and creativity.
Much of the conversation about AI in education today is about how to prevent cheating and ensure learning is actually happening, since so many students use ChatGPT.
Most teachers surveyed by the Center for Democracy and Technology say they have used AI detection software to check whether a student’s work was their own, but those tools can also be fallible. Teachers told the Center for Democracy and Technology they need better guidance and training on what responsible use is and how to respond if they suspect a student is cheating by using AI tools.
A key task for psychologists will be to study how using AI tools relates to students’ motivation to learn. Intelligent tutoring systems still lag far behind human teachers in their ability to detect whether a student is feeling frustrated, anxious, or uncertain about the content they’re learning.
Future intelligent tutors will collect more nuanced data on students as they learn —including everything from the heart rate to facial expressions. They will know when to call on a teacher to step in. This could ultimately shift teachers into more of a facilitator role.
The teacher role has the potential to evolve from the person who’s really directing the education to a person who is managing the experience.
The Center for Digital Thriving suggests the following questions for starting conversations with students about generative AI:
- Do you know any kids your age who are using generative AI?
- Has your school or teachers set any rules about using generative AI?
- What kinds of uses do you think should be allowed in school?
- Have you ever seen an AI tool get something wrong?
- What kinds of questions feel easier to ask AI than a human?
American Psychological Association
