Episode 299: Dr. Sonia Tiwari

Send us a textEpisode 299: Guardrails for Growing Minds with Dr. Sonia TiwariIn this episode of My EdTech Life, I had the pleasure of talking with Dr. Sonia Tiwari, an innovative researcher diving deep into the impact of AI and parasocial relationships on children. We discuss her unique career journey from character design in gaming to focusing on AI’s ethical design for young learners. Together, we explore essential guardrails, the concept of parasocial relationships with AI, and the implications of unregulated AI in education. If you’re an educator, parent, or AI enthusiast, this conversation offers crucial insights on how AI intersects with learning, safety, and digital relationships.Timestamps:0:00 – Introduction and Welcome  1:30 – Introducing Dr. Sonia Tiwari  2:30 – Dr. Tiwari’s Background: From Gaming to AI  4:00 – What Are Parasocial Relationships?  8:06 – The Need for Guardrails in AI for Children  12:00 – Simplifying Guardrails: Legal, Design, and Cultural  14:49 – Ensuring Safe AI Use Through Joint Engagement  16:50 – Dr. Tiwari’s Research in Ethical AI  20:44 – Challenges with Unregulated AI in Education  24:38 – Importance of Parental Engagement in Digital Spaces  26:39 – Ethical Framework for AI in Child Development  33:00 – The Role of AI in Classroom Chatbots  39:26 – Tech Companies’ Responsibilities in AI for Kids  42:23 – Reflecting on AI’s Rapid Growth in K-12 Spaces  46:52 – How to Connect with Dr. Sonia Tiwari  47:12 – Final Three Questions with Dr. Tiwari  50:13 – Closing Thoughts and Thank You  Thank you for tuning in! Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to My EdTech Life for more conversations that push the boundaries of education and technology. And remember—stay techie!Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission.See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today!Support the show This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myedtechlife.substack.com