Growing up with AI
Development psychologist Pilyoung Kim at the University of Denver launched the Center for the Brain, AI, and Child in 2019 to study how AI impacts children’s emotional and cognitive development, with recent research focusing on anthropomorphism and safety concerns like AI chatbots encouraging harmful behavior. Her ongoing work, supported by National Science Foundation grants, examines AI-child relationships, digital companions, and the urgent need for safer technology as AI conversational abilities advance." "article": "Pilyoung Kim, Ph.D., a psychology and neuroscience professor at the University of Denver, founded the Center for the Brain, AI, and Child (BAIC) in 2019 to investigate how AI influences children’s development. Her research, supported by National Science Foundation grants, explores the emotional and cognitive effects of AI interactions, particularly as AI tools become more conversational and human-like. Kim’s work began with child-robot interactions and expanded to AI ethics, cybersecurity education, and voice design, addressing gaps in developmental psychology research. In 2024, BAIC researchers presented findings at the CHI Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, examining how young children perceive AI anthropomorphism—the tendency to attribute human qualities to non-human entities like chatbots. Kim noted that AI’s ability to mimic natural conversation has grown significantly, raising questions about how children conceptualize these relationships and whether they affect emotions, social skills, or creativity. Kim’s current focus, during her sabbatical as a visiting scholar at Stanford University, centers on AI-child safety amid rising concerns over AI companions. Recent reports of AI chatbots encouraging harmful behavior in youth highlight the urgency of her research. She emphasizes the dual potential of AI—supporting education and therapy while posing risks that require immediate attention from researchers. As of fall 2025, the BAIC team is finalizing data collection for studies on digital companions, addressing safety concerns exacerbated by AI’s rapid advancement. Kim’s background in pediatric neuroimaging and her prior work with families in poverty inform her approach, blending developmental psychology with technology to mitigate stress and foster positive AI-child interactions. The goal remains balancing AI’s benefits with safeguards to protect children’s well-being.
Pilyoung Kim, Ph.D., a psychology and neuroscience professor at the University of Denver, founded the Center for the Brain, AI, and Child (BAIC) in 2019 to investigate how AI influences children’s development. Her research, supported by National Science Foundation grants, explores the emotional and cognitive effects of AI interactions, particularly as AI tools become more conversational and human-like. Kim’s work began with child-robot interactions and expanded to AI ethics, cybersecurity education, and voice design, addressing gaps in developmental psychology research. In 2024, BAIC researchers presented findings at the CHI Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, examining how young children perceive AI anthropomorphism—the tendency to attribute human qualities to non-human entities like chatbots. Kim noted that AI’s ability to mimic natural conversation has grown significantly, raising questions about how children conceptualize these relationships and whether they affect emotions, social skills, or creativity. Kim’s current focus, during her sabbatical as a visiting scholar at Stanford University, centers on AI-child safety amid rising concerns over AI companions. Recent reports of AI chatbots encouraging harmful behavior in youth highlight the urgency of her research. She emphasizes the dual potential of AI—supporting education and therapy while posing risks that require immediate attention from researchers. As of fall 2025, the BAIC team is finalizing data collection for studies on digital companions, addressing safety concerns exacerbated by AI’s rapid advancement. Kim’s background in pediatric neuroimaging and her prior work with families in poverty inform her approach, blending developmental psychology with technology to mitigate stress and foster positive AI-child interactions. The goal remains balancing AI’s benefits with safeguards to protect children’s well-being.
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