This talk examines why conversational AI can feel socially meaningful to children and adolescents, drawing on two studies of relational AI appeals among socially and emotionally vulnerable adolescents and young children’s anthropomorphism of an AI chatbot. I will discuss psychological mechanisms that may make AI feel like a social companion, with attention to developmental vulnerability and the emerging risks of emotional dependency on AI.

Dr. Pilyoung Kim is Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Denver and the Director of the Center for Brain, Artificial Intelligence, and Child (BAIC). She is widely recognized for her expertise in brain development and human emotional bonding, particularly in parent-child relationships. At the BAIC Center, she bridges developmental science and AI design to protect and support children. Professor Kim’s current research focuses on the emotional and social dimensions of child-AI interactions, with a strong emphasis on AI safety. Dr. Kim received her PhD in Developmental Psychology from Cornell University, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Professor Kim has authored over 100 publications, with her research supported by prestigious funding agencies, including the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).