Chatbots and childhood: A research brief on the associations between artificial intelligence use, problematic media use, and socioemotional problems in children from the United States

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly common, yet little research has explored its use during childhood. The current study examined two types of AI use (voice assistant and generative AI) and investigated whether such use is associated with problematic media use, as well as internalizing and externalizing behaviors in children. Participants included 474 children (M age = 7.48) and their parents, who completed surveys assessing AI use and related behaviors. Results indicated that voice assistant AI use was prevalent (84%), whereas generative AI use was relatively rare (5%). Both types of AI use were associated with higher levels of problematic media use. Additionally, voice assistant use was linked to internalizing behaviors, while generative AI use was associated with externalizing behaviors. These findings highlight the importance of researching emerging AI technologies and the potential implications for socioemotional development in childhood. Limitations of the study include the cross-sectional nature of the data and a relatively narrow focus on childhood.