We are now seeing toys embedded with Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) marketed for use by children under five (e.g. GenAI chatbots in soft toys). The rise in GenAI toys’ availability raises questions around impacts on young children’s development, and little is known about how early years practitioners feel about their role in education. Sharing preliminary results from a series of focus groups, this presentation will discuss the potential impacts of GenAI toys on young children through the views of those working in early years settings.
Speaker
Emily Goodacre
Emily is a Research Associate at in the Faculty of Education’s Centre for Research on Play in Education, Development, and Learning (PEDAL). Her research investigates the role of play in young children’s social relationships. Drawing on the perspectives of early years practitioners, parents, and young children, her current project examines the impact of toys embedded with Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) on children under age five.