Cynthia Breazeal, a global leader in social robotics and a professor at MIT, has been exploring for decades how machines can interact naturally and emotionally intelligently with people. Her work has been key in developing collaborative technologies applied to education, health, and care, always with a clear warning: artificial intelligence can enrich learning and society, but indiscriminate use can hinder the development of essential skills like critical thinking and creativity. “Excessive dependence on AI can limit young people's ability to solve problems and learn independently,” she warns. In an interview with La Vanguardia during the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Breazeal reflects on the role of AI in education, equity, and the future of social robotics. Through the MIT RAISE project, she promotes the idea that artificial intelligence should be accessible to everyone. They have created a free and adaptable AI literacy curriculum that spans from early childhood to secondary education and is already used in over 170 countries. “Any teacher can access the materials at dayofai.org, train, and adapt the content to their context,” she explains. The program has trained millions of teachers and students worldwide, thanks to collaboration with education ministries and the training of local trainers. Breazeal acknowledges that there is some resistance among teachers to integrating technology into classrooms, especially due to fears that students will lose autonomy. However, she insists that the key lies in thoughtful and guided integration: “It’s not just about preparing for the job market, but teaching how to use AI judiciously, avoiding cognitive outsourcing.” Her experience with social media highlights the importance of supporting young people in adopting new technologies to avoid negative effects. Looking to the future, Breazeal anticipates an accelerated expansion of AI across all sectors, but also a greater demand for concrete results and tangible benefits. “We are entering a phase where it will be necessary to integrate technology with rigor and responsibility,” she states, showing optimism but also caution regarding the risks. Regarding social robotics, Breazeal defines it as the creation of technologies capable of interacting socially and emotionally with people, not to replace them, but to enhance their capabilities, especially in areas like education and care, where demand exceeds available professionals. Her vision is clear: artificial intelligence will become increasingly omnipresent, and the challenge is not its presence, but how society decides to use it, focusing on training, judgment, and collective responsibility. Source: lavanguardia.com