AI Research
AI systems designed for children
To gain insights into how artificial intelligence systems and robotics can be designed with children’s rights in mind, Ayça Atabey and Sonia Livingstone spoke to Waseda University’s Professor Toshie Takahashi, as part of their work on AI and child rights at the Digital Futures for Children centre .Toshie has been researching AI since 2016, when she recognised the profound influence AI has on the lives of children and young people, and felt a strong need to examine this relationship from a cross-cultural perspective. She has launched two major international projects: “A Future with AI” (in collaboration with the UN) and “Project GenZAI” (as part of Japan’s Moonshot R&D Program), focusing on global comparative research on AI and children and young people.
1. When you look at how AI systems and robots are designed for children, what do you think are the most crucial opportunities and risks?
AI designed for children presents valuable opportunities, such as supporting their learning. However, it also poses risks like privacy violations and deepfakes. That is why human-centred design is essential. Instead of AI unilaterally influencing children, we must fosterinteractive relationships that empower children to actively shape their own futures.
2. At the Digital Futures for Children centre we often ask, “What does good look like in the digital world with and for children?” How would you describe what good looks like in the context of AI systems designed for children?
In this context, “good” could involve creating systems that enable children to engage safely and meaningfully with AI. AI should be designed to spark creativity and support children in realising their full potential.
3. Are there any good practice examples you can think of from Japan or elsewhere?
One initiative I would like to highlight is Japan’s Moonshot R&D Program. In the project I’m involved with, we aim to develop AI-driven robots that “learn and act autonomously while coexisting with humans.” Together with robotics engineers, computer scientists, and neurosurgeons, I contribute from the perspective of the humanities and social sciences to the development of AIREC — a smart robot designed to stay with an individual throughout their life.
This project also led to our collaboration with partners in nine countries — including the US, UK, Italy, Spain, Estonia, Chile, China, Singapore, and Japan — as well as with leading institutions such as Stanford and Cambridge, on “Project GenZAI,” a global comparative study on Generation Z and AI. Since 2021, Project GenZAI has conducted in-depth interviews with children and young people about their views on AI across these nine countries. As part of the interviews, participants are asked to draw their vision of an ideal society in 2050. These drawings reveal striking cross-cultural differences. For example, in Western societies such as the UK, young people often emphasize environmental issues and a sense of community. In contrast, in Japan, there is a stronger focus on healthcare and AI-driven robots designed to support people in an increasingly super-aged society.
4. Are there any changes you would like to see in the AI ecosystem or from key stakeholders, such as governments, to achieve what good looks like?
To realise this vision, we must shift away from AI-first approaches, toward innovations that prioritise human well-being. All stakeholders — including businesses, governments, researchers, civil society, and youth — must work together based on human-centred values.
In “A Future with AI”, our UN-based project, we proposed design principles informed by the voices of children and young people, emphasising cultural and age-sensitive approaches, accountability, and AI as a complementary support system. AI literacy, reskilling programs, and flexible regulatory frameworks (e.g., ethical AI certification marks) are also crucial.
5. How do you define “Human-Centred AI” or “Human-Centric AI” and can you tell us about the Japanese model?
Human-Centred AI is an approach that respects human dignity and diversity, aiming to enhance human capabilities and well-being. In Japan, there is a cultural tendency to view AI and robots as partners, which fosters a generally positive attitude toward their use as supportive tools in education and care.
6. Can you tell us where you see children and young people in HCAI discussions in different models?
Traditionally, HCAI models have not sufficiently reflected the perspectives of children and youth. But as AI becomes embedded in daily life, young people should be regarded as central agents in shaping our future. In our A Future with AI project, which involved youth from 36 countries, their role as co-designers was clearly emphasized. The youth participants collectively affirmed that AI is part of their future, and highlighted the importance of human–AI collaboration for equality and sustainability. While they expressed generally positive views, they also drew clear red lines — such as a firm rejection of autonomous lethal weapons — and called for international rules on AI design and use. Ultimately, they believe that humanity can manage the risks and achieve a successful and ethical coexistence with AI.
7. Which key learning would you like to share from your work that you think researchers should pay more attention to in today’s increasingly GenAI-driven ecosystem and its impact on children’s lives?
Since ChatGPT gained popularity in 2023, we have been conducting annual in-depth interviews on generative AI and its impact on children and young people. Overall, they are optimistic about its potential to enhance creativity, support learning, and generate new job opportunities. At the same time, they express concerns about misinformation and a potential decline in critical thinking skills, particularly among younger children. Rather than relying solely on regulation, they emphasize the importance of developing the literacy needed to understand and navigate AI effectively.
8. What should we have asked you that we have not?
When thinking about “children and AI,” it’s vital to see children not merely as recipients of the future, but as active creators of it. We need systems — in education, policy and technological development — that proactively incorporate the voices of children and youth.
Toshie Takahashi is Professor at Waseda University, Tokyo, and an Associate Fellow at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (CFI), University of Cambridge. She has held visiting appointments at the University of Oxford, Harvard University, and Columbia University. Her cross-cultural, transdisciplinary research explores the social impact of robots and the potential of AI for Good. A frequent speaker at UN forums and global conferences, she is also the author of Towards the Age of Digital Wisdom (Shinnyosha, 2016, in Japanese), which received first prize in the Telecommunication Social Science Awards. She holds a PhD from LSE and advises Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
This post gives the views of the authors and not the position of the Media@LSE blog, nor of the London School of Economics and Political Science.
AI Research
Wiley partners with Claude creator Anthropic, responsibly integrating AI across scholarly research — EdTech Innovation Hub
Wiley says it is adopting the Model Context Protocol, an open standard created by Anthropic which aims to provide seamless integration between authoritative, peer-reviewed content and AI tools across platforms.
Starting with a pilot project, and subject to definitive agreement, the partnership will see Wiley and Anthropic working together to ensure university partners have streamlined, enhanced access to Wiley content.
The partnership will also establish standards for integrating AI tools into scientific journal content, while providing appropriate context for users, including attributions and citations.
“The future of research lies in ensuring that high-quality, peer-reviewed content remains central to AI-powered discovery,” explans Josh Jarrett, Senior Vice President of AI Growth at Wiley.
“Through this partnership, Wiley is not only setting the standard for how academic publishers integrate trusted scientific content with AI platforms but is also creating a scalable solution that other institutions and publishers can adopt. By adopting MCP, we’re demonstrating our commitment to interoperability and helping to ensure authoritative, peer-reviewed research will be discoverable in an increasingly AI-driven landscape.”
“We’re excited to partner with Wiley to explore how AI can accelerate and enhance access to scientific research,” adds Lauren Collett, who leads Higher Education partnerships at Anthropic.
“This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to building AI that amplifies human thinking—enabling students to access peer-reviewed content with Claude, enhancing learning and discovery while maintaining proper citation standards and academic integrity.”
The news comes shortly after Anthropic announced the launch of Claude for Education, a version of its chatbot tailored to meet the needs of higher education institutions.
RTIH AI in Retail Awards
Our sister title, RTIH, organiser of the industry leading RTIH Innovation Awards, proudly brings you the first edition of the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, which is now open for entries.
As we witness a digital transformation revolution across all channels, AI tools are reshaping the omnichannel game, from personalising customer experiences to optimising inventory, uncovering insights into consumer behaviour, and enhancing the human element of retailers’ businesses.
With 2025 set to be the year when AI and especially gen AI shake off the ‘heavily hyped’ tag and become embedded in retail business processes, our newly launched awards celebrate global technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world and the resulting benefits for retailers, shoppers and employees.
Our 2025 winners will be those companies who not only recognise the potential of AI, but also make it usable in everyday work – resulting in more efficiency and innovation in all areas.
Winners will be announced at an evening event at The Barbican in Central London on Wednesday, 3rd September.
AI Research
Humanoid robot says not aiming to ‘replace human artists’
When successful artist Ai-Da unveiled a new portrait of King Charles this week, the humanoid robot described what inspired the layered and complex piece, and insisted it had no plans to “replace” humans.
The ultra-realistic robot, one of the most advanced in the world, is designed to resemble a human woman with an expressive, life-like face, large hazel eyes and brown hair cut in a bob.
The arms though are unmistakably robotic, with exposed metal, and can be swapped out depending on the art form it is practicing.
Late last year, Ai-Da’s portrait of English mathematician Alan Turing became the first artwork by a humanoid robot to be sold at auction, fetching over $1 million.
But as Ai-Da unveiled its latest creation — an oil painting entitled “Algorithm King”, conceived using artificial intelligence — the humanoid insisted the work’s importance could not be measured in money.
“The value of my artwork is to serve as a catalyst for discussions that explore ethical dimensions to new technologies,” the robot told AFP at Britain’s diplomatic mission in Geneva, where the new portrait of King Charles will be housed.
The idea, Ai-Da insisted in a slow, deliberate cadence, was to “foster critical thinking and encourage responsible innovation for more equitable and sustainable futures”.
– ‘Unique and creative’ –
Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations’ AI for Good summit, Ai-Da, who has done sketches, paintings and sculptures, detailed the methods and inspiration behind the work.
“When creating my art, I use a variety of AI algorithms,” the robot said.
“I start with a basic idea or concept that I want to explore, and I think about the purpose of the art. What will it say?”
The humanoid pointed out that “King Charles has used his platform to raise awareness on environmental conservation and interfaith dialog. I have aimed this portrait to celebrate” that, it said, adding that “I hope King Charles will be appreciative of my efforts”.
Aidan Meller, a specialist in modern and contemporary art, led the team that created Ai-Da in 2019 with artificial intelligence specialists at the universities of Oxford and Birmingham.
He told AFP that he had conceived the humanoid robot — named after the world’s first computer programmer Ada Lovelace — as an ethical arts project, and not “to replace the painters”.
Ai-Da agreed.
There is “no doubt that AI is changing our world, (including) the art world and forms of human creative expression”, the robot acknowledged.
But “I do not believe AI or my artwork will replace human artists”.
Instead, Ai-Da said, the aim was “to inspire viewers to think about how we use AI positively, while remaining conscious of its risks and limitations”.
Asked if a painting made by a machine could really be considered art, the robot insisted that “my artwork is unique and creative”.
“Whether humans decide it is art is an important and interesting point of conversation.”
nl/vog/gv
AI Research
TSU and the AIRI Institute have opened an artificial intelligence laboratory in chemistry and molecular engineering | News
The laboratory will develop and implement AI methods for creating new materials and medicines based on the analysis of chemical, biological and medical data.
It was opened at the Engineering Chemical Technology Center (ECTC). The new division will use AI to develop new medicines and simulate the properties of chemical compounds. For example, scientists will create methods for predicting the physico-chemical properties of chemical compounds and algorithms for analyzing quantum patterns in atomic and molecular physics, including macroscopic quantum effects. They will conduct research in the field of chemoinformatics (chemical informatics, molecular informatics), bioinformatics at the levels of DNA, cells and tissues, and develop digital assistants and intelligent decision support systems for chemical technologies.
Artur Kadurin, head of the AI in Life Sciences Research Group at the AIRI Institute and scientific director of the new laboratory, noted during the event that modern life sciences and materials science generate unprecedented amounts of data. The laboratory’s task is to develop and apply AI methods to analyze and combine this heterogeneous information at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and physics.
“Accelerating the development of therapeutic drugs and functional materials depends on our ability to predict the complex properties of substances and their interactions. We will focus on creating computational approaches that will make it possible to effectively use the potential of artificial intelligence technologies to solve these problems. In turn, experts from TSU will provide the experimental validation of the proposed methods,” said Artur Kadurin.
According to Vyacheslav Goiko, director of the TSU Institute for Big Data Analysis and Artificial Intelligence, the introduction of AI into the work of chemical scientists and molecular engineering specialists is a fundamental change in the very logic of scientific research.
“The future belongs to those who learn how to use AI to accelerate scientific research and generate new knowledge. And this future is being created here in Tomsk today. These are colleagues from the AI Institute, recognized leaders in the field of fundamental and applied AI research. Our team has extensive experience in conducting research and applied developments based on the Cyberia supercomputer. ECTC provides expertise in synthesis and analysis of substances and in scaling of chemical processes,” said Vyacheslav Goiko.
Unique ECTC plants will be used for the projects of the new laboratory. For example, the center’s scientists are currently developing Russia’s first AI system for actual production in low-tonnage chemicals.
“The main goal is to accelerate the production cycle, eliminate the human factor to increase the accuracy and safety of the process, which, in this case, is the production of sodium tartrate. AI helps predict changes in parameters and clearly analyze the consequences of changes, which is important in the continuous process of developing a substance,” said Aleksey Knyazev, Director of the ECTC, Acting Dean of the Department of Chemistry at TSU.
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