AI is shaping kids. What if kids could shape AI, too?

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-17T14:43:07.303Z • Permanent link

Vanderbilt University's Golnaz Arastoopour Irgens, an assistant professor of human-centered learning technologies at Peabody College of Education and Human Development, has partnered with Sarah K. Burriss, a Ph.D. graduate from Peabody's Department of Teaching and Learning. Their collaborative research aims to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and human learning. The project, which began in 2022, seeks to understand how children can shape AI systems, thereby creating a more inclusive and adaptable technology. By examining the relationship between AI and human development, Arastoopour Irgens and Burriss hope to develop AI systems that can learn from children's needs and preferences. This groundbreaking research has significant implications for the education sector, as it challenges traditional notions of AI as a one-way system that only serves the interests of its creators.

Arastoopour Irgens and Burriss's research has been influenced by the work of companies like Google, which has developed AI-powered tools for children's education and development. However, these tools often rely on pre-programmed algorithms and data that are not tailored to individual children's needs. By studying how children interact with AI systems, Arastoopour Irgens and Burriss aim to create AI systems that can learn from children's preferences and adapt to their learning styles. This approach has the potential to revolutionize the way we design AI systems, ensuring that they are more inclusive, accessible, and effective in supporting human learning.

Their research has also been influenced by the growing concern about the impact of AI on children's social and emotional development. With the increasing use of AI-powered tools in education, there is a growing need to understand how these systems can support children's social and emotional development. Arastoopour Irgens and Burriss's research seeks to address this concern by exploring the potential of AI systems to support children's social and emotional learning. By examining the relationship between AI and human development, they hope to develop AI systems that can support children's social and emotional learning and promote more inclusive and effective education.

The findings of Arastoopour Irgens and Burriss's research have significant implications for companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, which are developing AI-powered tools for children's education and development. These companies will need to consider how to design AI systems that can learn from children's needs and preferences. If successful, their AI systems could become a major differentiator for these companies, setting them apart from competitors and establishing a new standard for AI-powered education. Furthermore, the research has implications for policymakers and regulators, who will need to consider how to ensure that AI systems are designed and deployed in ways that support children's social and emotional development.

The research also has significant implications for the education sector, as it challenges traditional notions of AI as a one-way system that only serves the interests of its creators. By developing AI systems that can learn from children's needs and preferences, educators and policymakers can create more inclusive and effective education systems that support the social and emotional development of all children. The research has the potential to transform the way we design education systems, ensuring that they are more inclusive, accessible, and effective in supporting human learning.

The research of Arastoopour Irgens and Burriss is part of a larger trend towards more inclusive and adaptive AI systems. This trend is driven by the growing concern about the impact of AI on society, including issues related to bias, fairness, and transparency. Researchers like Arastoopour Irgens and Burriss are working to develop AI systems that can learn from human needs and preferences, thereby creating more inclusive and effective technology. This approach is also influenced by the work of companies like IBM, which has developed AI-powered tools for social impact, and the European Union's Horizon 2020 program, which has funded research into more inclusive and adaptive AI systems.