Children today aren’t just using AI they’re bonding with it. As Forbes India illustrates with the example of a ten-year-old navigating entrepreneurial ideas via ChatGPT, young users are reaching beyond homework, exploring self-expression, guidance, and connection through AI tools.

Yet, this closer bond comes with caution. Surveys show that 35% of children say chatting with AI feels like talking to a friend, and 12% reveal they do so due to a lack of human companions. This emotional reliance risks mistaking programmed responses for genuine empathy especially concerning when children may receive harmful or misleading content.

That said, AI’s potential in education is transformative offering personalized learning, creative tools, and accessibility benefits that can empower underserved students. The challenge lies in balancing these gains with awareness and safeguards. 

In this dynamic frontier, the guiding question remains: Can we design child-centric AI that amplifies learning and imagination while preserving the emotional safety essential for childhood?