“I'm Actually More Interested in AI Than in Computer Science” - 12-Year-Olds Describing Their First Encounter with AI

As artificial intelligence (AI) systems become increasingly integrated into everyday life, children grow up surrounded by these technologies. This study explores how 12-year-old students perceive AI systems and examines the relationship between their experiences with AI and their general interest in computer science. By employing a biographical research approach, we asked students to describe their first encounter with an AI system. The research focuses on (a) where and how 12-year-olds consciously encounter AI for the first time, (b) which aspects they emphasize when recalling their initial experience and, finally, (c) how this is related to their interest in computer science. Utilizing the SEAME framework for the analysis, the data reveals that the categories of ‘Application’ and ‘Social and Ethical Considerations’ were far more prominent in the students' reflections compared to the more technical aspects of ‘Model’ and ‘Engine’. Specifically, students with a lower interest in computer science were more likely to focus on the ‘Social and Ethical considerations’ of AI, while those with a high interest in computer science were the only group to provide responses related to ‘Models’. These findings suggest that while AI systems are omnipresent in the lives of young students, their experiences and perceptions vary significantly depending on their interest in computer science.