# "Alexa doesn't have that many feelings": Children's understanding of AI through interactions with smart speakers in their homes

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.05597 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.05597/

## Key facts

- Cited by 8 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 7 of its 86 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 9 May 2023.

## Builds on (most cited first, 7 of 7)

- [Sparks of Artificial General Intelligence: Early experiments with GPT-4](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.12712/) (2023)
- [Improving alignment of dialogue agents via targeted human judgements](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2209.14375/) (2022)
- [DolphinAtack: Inaudible Voice Commands](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1708.09537/) (2017)
- [Alexa, Google, Siri: What are Your Pronouns? Gender and Anthropomorphism in the Design and Perception of Conversational Assistants](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.02578/) (2021)
- [A Crowd-based Evaluation of Abuse Response Strategies in Conversational Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1909.04387/) (2019)
- [Measuring the Effectiveness of Privacy Policies for Voice Assistant Applications](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2007.14570/) (2020)
- ["Alexa, Can I Program You?": Student Perceptions of Conversational Artificial Intelligence Before and After Programming Alexa](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.01367/) (2021)

## Built on by (most cited first, 8 of 8)

- [Mirages: On Anthropomorphism in Dialogue Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.09800/) (2023)
- [Children's Mental Models of AI Reasoning: Implications for AI Literacy Education](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.16031/) (2025)
- [Toys that listen, talk, and play: Understanding Children's Sensemaking and Interactions with AI Toys](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.02629/) (2026)
- [Long-Term Simulation Exposes Cognitive-Developmental Risks in AI Companions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.25396/) (2026)
- [Young children's anthropomorphism of an AI chatbot: Brain activation and the role of parent co-presence](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2512.02179/) (2025)
- [A Privacy by Design Framework for Large Language Model-Based Applications for Children](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.17418/) (2026)
- [How Children Design and Reason about Trustworthy AI Chatbots](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.25244/) (2026)
- [Persona and Persuasive Framing in AI Voice Agents: A 2×2 Field Experiment with Children](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.38782/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

As voice-based Conversational Assistants (CAs), including Alexa, Siri, Google Home, have become commonly embedded in households, many children now routinely interact with Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. It is important to research children's experiences with consumer devices which use AI techniques because these shape their understanding of AI and its capabilities. We conducted a mixed-methods study (questionnaires and interviews) with primary-school children aged 6-11 in Scotland to establish children's understanding of how voice-based CAs work, how they perceive their cognitive abilities, agency and other human-like qualities, their awareness and trust of privacy aspects when using CAs and what they perceive as appropriate verbal interactions with CAs. Most children overestimated the CAs' intelligence and were uncertain about the systems' feelings or agency. They also lacked accurate understanding of data privacy and security aspects, and believed it was wrong to be rude to conversational assistants. Exploring children's current understanding of AI-supported technology has educational implications; such findings will enable educators to develop appropriate materials to address the pressing need for AI literacy.