What inspired you to join the alignAI project?
Considering the inevitable involvement of AI tools in our lives, the alignAI project proposes a great opportunity to investigate how children interact with and learn through large language models (LLMs). Moreover, the pioneering role of the current project in paving the way for future investigations to uncover dimensions of interactive learning settings, both for human and artificial intelligence, is compelling. Taking responsibility in navigating this emerging field from a developmental approach represents an academic goal for me.
What is the focus of your research within alignAI?
My research focus is to investigate children’s stated and revealed preferences in their interactions with AI agents across three use cases: education, mental health and news consumption. Specifically, we aim to explore the extent to which children’s stated preferences correspond to their revealed preferences.
What excites you most about working at the intersection of AI and psychology?
As a developmental psychologist, I am inspired by the growing body of research on human-AI interaction. The ways in which children prefer to learn from LLMs, both as learning tools and communication partners, and how they navigate their use of LLMs over time (reflecting their adaptivity and flexibility) point out important subjects to explore further about (active) learning in a broad sense. These questions ignite my academic curiosity and motivation to be a part of the alignAI project. I am also enthusiastic about the implications of the project for future research in developmental science, particularly within educational settings.
How do you see interdisciplinary collaboration shaping the future of AI, whether in your project or further?
The contribution of each discipline will significantly help to make AI development more comprehensive and multi-dimensional. Given the ever-increasing influence of AI tools in our lives, their advancement requires deliberate considerations and a holistic approach to address human needs, which will be achievable only through interdisciplinary collaboration.
If you had to explain your research to a friend outside academia, how would you describe it?
I investigate children’s expectations, concerns and communication patterns in their interactions with LLM tools in three use cases: education, mental health and online news consumption. By shedding light on children’s personal preferences in the use of AI, our research project ultimately aims to contribute to advancing AI tools that are more individualised and aligned with ethical and societal values.
Where can people follow your work?
I will update my ResearchGate profile and LinkedIn page as the outcomes of the project are published.