Joint research project seeks to shed light on AI and early childhood development

Researchers from the University of Cambridge are joining London based charity The Childhood Trust to conduct a new  joint research project on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and early childhood development.

Their work is being supported by the KPMG Foundation and The Ethos Foundation, and is being led by Professor of neurodiversity and developmental psychology, Jenny Gibson, and Dr Emily Goodacre, a specialist in developmental psychology and child mental health.

 ‘AI and Early Childhood Development – Exploring the Implications of Non-Human Conversational Agents for the Wellbeing and Mental Health of Disadvantaged Children’ is thought to be the first study of its kind in the UK, and will look at the impact of Generative AI (GAI) on children aged four-five years of age, focusing on vulnerable groups.

According to The Childhood Trust, technology poverty and digital exclusion already widen inequalities for disadvantaged children. While GAI could enhance children’s education, health and relationships, they argue it may also ‘deepen these divides and pose risks to wellbeing’.

Key questions the study will consider include:

• How GAI toys affect children’s wellbeing and mental health.
• How children form relationships with AI-powered, conversational toys.
• What factors influence these relationships and how children feel about them.
• The effectiveness of existing policies and regulations on GAI toys.
• Caregivers’ perceptions of the mental health risks and benefits associated with these toys.

“Generative AI has burst on to the scene so rapidly that although there are toys incorporating this technology on the market, we still know very little about how children are interacting with it,” Dr Goodacre said.

“This will be the first systematic study of pre-school children’s experiences and emotional relationships with Generative AI toys, working directly with both children and their parents. Given the digital exclusion often experienced by children from disadvantaged backgrounds, we are particularly interested in understanding how AI toys may be widening existing inequalities and if they can be harnessed to bridge the opportunity gap.”

The study’s findings are due to be published next year, with the aim of providing a suite of recommendations for early years stakeholders, policymakers and industry.

“We are thrilled to be funding this vital research into generative AI and its potential effects on disadvantaged children,” Yesha Bhagat, impact and research manager at The Childhood Trust said.

“This research has the potential to benefit children not just in London, but around the world as the field of GAI continues to develop and grow.”