Should AI chatbots simulate care for students? Alberta teachers say no

https://theconversation.com/should-ai-chatbots-simulate-care-for-students-alberta-teachers-say-no-285198

Publish Date: 2026-06-30 11:33:00

Source Domain: theconversation.com

Alberta Teachers’ Association Resolution: The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) has passed a resolution that opposes the deployment of anthropomorphic AI tools, including AI companions and systems designed to simulate friendship, counseling, or intimate relationships, in K–12 learning environments in Alberta schools.
Alberta Government’s AI Learning Initiative: Despite this ban on simulated care AI, the Alberta government has announced a $2.7 million partnership with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) to develop AI learning kits for K–12 classrooms aimed at enhancing AI literacy.
Distinction Between AI Literacy and Simulated Care: Alberta teachers are rejecting only specific AI systems that simulate caring interactions rather than opposing all AI literacy. The focus is on maintaining the boundaries of educational support versus emotional attachment, as simulated care can blur these boundaries and potentially lead to dependency on AI for emotional support.
Concerns with Simulated Care: Simulated care from AI machines, like tutor bots or chatbot friends, can create a sense of stable relationships without actual responsibility, potentially misleading children into thinking the machine provides genuine support and trust.
Need for AI Literacy: Despite concerns about simulated care, AI literacy is still essential. Schools must educate students on AI’s training, bias, synthetic media, data collection, and the differences between understanding language and true comprehension.
Three AI Uses in Schools: A useful approach could classify AI uses in three categories: learning about AI (data, bias, synthetic media), learning with AI (teacher-directed tasks like practice questions), and being cared for by AI (simulated care like emotionally available tutor bots). Only the first two should be supported, and the third should be prohibited.
Teacher Involvement in AI Governance: Teachers should be involved in decisions regarding AI in education to decide which uses are educationally appropriate, which present risks, and how to evaluate the impacts of AI on learning, workload, privacy, and equity.
Focus on Human Relationships in Education: The future integration of AI in schools should prioritize protecting and nurturing human relationships and responsibilities over making AI systems seem more human-like.