Following our previous publication on the implications of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) for homework, coursework, and assessment in schools, Goodnotes set out to explore and understand the social and emotional impact that this technology is already having on young people in school. We wanted to learn and consequently share more about changes to school policies and attitudes concerning the use of AI tools as well as the evolution of the technology itself. It became quite clear that one of the most under-investigated areas surrounding the subject was the impact certain tools were having on the social and emotional development of young learners. This research publication provides recommendations while highlighting our findings from in-depth literature reviews, interviews, and focus groups with educators and learners across the world. The paper offers new insights and recommendations concerning the profound impact of GenAI on students’ well-being, social interactions, and emotional development while considering ways that existing concerns may be addressed.

Key Findings

1. Social Relationships and Collaboration: While AI tools offer efficiency, there are many concerns about their impact on in-person socialization. However, when thoughtfully integrated, AI can enhance creative group tasks and foster new forms of collaboration.
2. Learned Helplessness and Transactional Relationships: Uncritical use of AI tools may lead to over-reliance and transactional engagement that compromises creativity and independent thinking, especially when AI is used merely as a coping mechanism for academic pressure.
3. Unregulated Advice and Mental Health Support: Students are increasingly turning to AI for social and emotional guidance before using the results to take action both in the real world. This raises concerns about the authenticity of care and the potential missed opportunities for face-to-face interactions crucial for personal growth.
4. Future Anxiety and Career Prospects: The rapid evolution of AI has sparked both fear and motivation among students regarding their future careers. We need to reevaluate educational pathways and the skills needed for the future AI-integrated workforce.
5. Trust and Positive Scaffolding: Trust plays a central role in shaping AI’s implications for students’ social and emotional well-being. Building an ecosystem of trust within schools requires positive scaffolding, proactive experimentation, and the cultivation of critical AI literacy.

Recommendations for Schools

1. Pay Attention to Local Contexts: When developing new AI strategies and solutions for schools, there are no one-size-fits-all approaches. It is important to consider diverse factors such as school attitude, bandwidth, cultural capital, and genuine demand for innovation and AI adoption.
2. Establish Constructive Norms and Habits: Build a culture of trust and critical engagement with AI, fostering norms that encourage responsible and creative use of the technology beyond written guidance and policy documents.
3. Engage in Co-Creation Through Working Groups: Encourage frequent discussions and sharing of best practices within peer groups, involving both students and teachers in decision-making about AI adoption.
4. Prepare to Handle Exposure to Inappropriate AI Content: Develop multi-layered protocols and strategies that combine proactive and reactive measures to address potential exposure to disturbing or harmful AI-generated content.
5. Foreground Transparency by Documenting the Use of AI as a Learning Journey: Promote transparency by encouraging students to document their use of AI as part of a reflective learning process.
6. Cultivate Holistic AI Literacy: Develop a comprehensive approach to critically using and understanding AI in terms of both its technical capacities and its social implications.
7. Rethink Critical AI Pedagogy and the Role of Educators: Reimagine the role of educators in an AI-integrated landscape, focusing on facilitating discussions, guiding ethical decision-making, and fostering essential human skills.

Conclusion

AI is already shaping young learners’ approach to work, their relationships with peers, and their interactions with teachers. However, many schools and educators remain uncertain about how to constructively integrate and guide the use of this powerful technology. This raises critical questions about AI’s impact on students' social and emotional development, particularly as mental health challenges and neurodiverse needs among youth continue to grow. This publication serves as a call to action for more thoughtful dialogues and collaborative approaches to AI adoption that involves all stakeholders in the educational ecosystem. As AI continues to evolve, it is crucial that we shape its integration in ways that enhance, rather than diminish, the human aspects of learning and development.