Alexa doesn't have that many feelings: Children's understanding of AI through interactions with smart speakers in their homes
As voice-based Conversational Assistants (CAs), including Alexa, Siri, Google Home, have become commonly embedded in households, many children now routinely interact with Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. It is important to research children's experiences with consumer devices which use AI...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666920X23000553 |
| _version_ | 1827577210467254272 |
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| author | Valentina Andries Judy Robertson |
| author_facet | Valentina Andries Judy Robertson |
| author_sort | Valentina Andries |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As voice-based Conversational Assistants (CAs), including Alexa, Siri, Google Home, have become commonly embedded in households, many children now routinely interact with Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. It is important to research children's experiences with consumer devices which use AI techniques because these shape their understanding of AI and its capabilities. We conducted a mixed-methods study (questionnaires and interviews) with primary-school children aged 6–11 in Scotland to establish children's understanding of how voice-based CAs work, how they perceive their cognitive abilities, agency and other human-like qualities, their awareness and trust of privacy aspects when using CAs and what they perceive as appropriate verbal interactions with CAs. Most children overestimated the CAs' intelligence and were uncertain about the systems' feelings or agency. They also lacked accurate understanding of data privacy and security aspects, and believed it was wrong to be rude to conversational assistants. Exploring children's current understanding of AI-supported technology has educational implications; such findings will enable educators to develop appropriate materials to address the pressing need for AI literacy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:24:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c56dd6056b614140b6c4e867e3c3a3be |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-920X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:24:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence |
| spelling | doaj.art-c56dd6056b614140b6c4e867e3c3a3be2023-12-21T07:38:07ZengElsevierComputers and Education: Artificial Intelligence2666-920X2023-01-015100176Alexa doesn't have that many feelings: Children's understanding of AI through interactions with smart speakers in their homesValentina Andries0Judy Robertson1Centre for Research in Digital Education, University of Edinburgh, Moray House School of Education and Sport University of, Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ, UKCorresponding author.; Centre for Research in Digital Education, University of Edinburgh, Moray House School of Education and Sport University of, Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ, UKAs voice-based Conversational Assistants (CAs), including Alexa, Siri, Google Home, have become commonly embedded in households, many children now routinely interact with Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. It is important to research children's experiences with consumer devices which use AI techniques because these shape their understanding of AI and its capabilities. We conducted a mixed-methods study (questionnaires and interviews) with primary-school children aged 6–11 in Scotland to establish children's understanding of how voice-based CAs work, how they perceive their cognitive abilities, agency and other human-like qualities, their awareness and trust of privacy aspects when using CAs and what they perceive as appropriate verbal interactions with CAs. Most children overestimated the CAs' intelligence and were uncertain about the systems' feelings or agency. They also lacked accurate understanding of data privacy and security aspects, and believed it was wrong to be rude to conversational assistants. Exploring children's current understanding of AI-supported technology has educational implications; such findings will enable educators to develop appropriate materials to address the pressing need for AI literacy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666920X23000553And phrases: educationConversational assistantsSmart speakersAI educationChild-computer interactionTrust |
| spellingShingle | Valentina Andries Judy Robertson Alexa doesn't have that many feelings: Children's understanding of AI through interactions with smart speakers in their homes Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence And phrases: education Conversational assistants Smart speakers AI education Child-computer interaction Trust |
| title | Alexa doesn't have that many feelings: Children's understanding of AI through interactions with smart speakers in their homes |
| title_full | Alexa doesn't have that many feelings: Children's understanding of AI through interactions with smart speakers in their homes |
| title_fullStr | Alexa doesn't have that many feelings: Children's understanding of AI through interactions with smart speakers in their homes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Alexa doesn't have that many feelings: Children's understanding of AI through interactions with smart speakers in their homes |
| title_short | Alexa doesn't have that many feelings: Children's understanding of AI through interactions with smart speakers in their homes |
| title_sort | alexa doesn t have that many feelings children s understanding of ai through interactions with smart speakers in their homes |
| topic | And phrases: education Conversational assistants Smart speakers AI education Child-computer interaction Trust |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666920X23000553 |
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