Patterns of Exposure to AI-Based Applications in Children: Evidence from Parent-Reported Use and Human-Centered Implications

Abstract

The growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-based applications into everyday contexts has extended their use to the family environment, where technological adoption is often mediated by responsible adults. The present study analyzed parental perceptions of the use of AI-based applications, incorporating contextual information about the usage scenarios reported by parents. A cross-sectional observational design was used, employing a self-administered online questionnaire applied to 303 parents residing in Honduras. Parental perception was assessed using a six-item Likert scale, while the age of the children and the type of AI-based application were used for descriptive and contextual purposes. Analyses included descriptive statistics, Welch's analysis of variance, and latent profile analysis (LPA). The results showed a moderate overall perception of the impact of using AI applications, with no significant differences based on the gender of the participants, but with relevant variations based on the age group of the parents. The LPA identified three distinct profiles of parental perception: low, moderate, and high perceived impact, suggesting heterogeneous configurations of technological acceptance. These findings highlight the role of parents as key mediators in the adoption of intelligent systems and underscore the importance of considering human and perceptual factors in the design of AI-based applications. The implications of the study are relevant for the development of user-centered technological solutions that are sensitive to family contexts.