Philosopher Carina Prunkl explores how artificial intelligence shapes children's development and decision-making. As generative AI becomes a tool children rely on for answers and problem-solving, important questions emerge: what happens to their growing ability to think independently and critically?
This lecture examines the tension between beneficial reliance—a natural part of how children learn—and over-reliance that may weaken the very capacities underpinning their agency. Prunkl investigates when dependence on AI systems supports children's development and when it risks undermining their epistemic growth, offering insight into technology's role in childhood development and learning.
