Abstract
Objective: We explored parents’ and children’s attachment-like behaviors with artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled smart speakers (often called digital assistants; DAs) and associations with perceived impacts on family dynamics. Background: DAs (e.g., Alexa) are increasingly integrated into homes, with prior research reporting varied uses, benefits, and concerns, including perceived emotional attachments among children. Method: We conducted an online survey of 351 parents who owned DAs to assess frequency of use, perception of positive/negative impacts, and attachment-like behaviors with DAs. Utilizing linear regression we examined associations between variables. Results: Approximately half reported at least daily DA use. Overall, participants reported moderate attachment-like behavior, with moderate positive impacts and low negative impacts; greater attachment-like behavior was positively associated with perceptions of both positive and negative impacts as well as frequency of use. Conclusion: Higher frequency of DA use and parents’ perceptions of impact—greater positive and greater negative—were associated with higher levels of attachment-like behavior. Implications: As DAs and generative AI become more advanced, human-AI relationships will likely become more complex, and continued research should assess their impact on families and child development.
Full Report forthcoming
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-19-2025
Recommended Citation
McDaniel, Brandon T. PhD; Coupe, Amanda; Weston, Allison; and Pater, Jessica, "Parent and child attachment-like behaviors with conversational AI agents and perceptions of impact on family dynamics" (2025). Health Services and Informatics Research. 196.
https://researchrepository.parkviewhealth.org/informatics/196