Many kids are unsure if Alexa and Siri have feelings or think like people, study finds

Child with curly brown hair sits at a table with a pencil and looks at a smart speaker on the table, as if to ask it a question.

Many elementary-age children think artificial intelligence (AI) assistants like Alexa and Siri may have feelings or the ability to make decisions independently, a study suggests.

The research, published in the journal Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, investigated how 6- to 11-year-old children perceive household AI assistants, such as Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant. The study, conducted in Scotland through questionnaires and interviews, hints that children may overestimate and misunderstand the intelligence of these popular technologies.