Exploring the Potential of Cognitive Flexibility and Elaboration in Support of Curiosity, Interest, and Engagement in Designing AI-Rich Learning Spaces, Extensible to Urban Environments

The aim of this paper is to explore cognitive flexibility and elaborative interrogation in relation to AI (artificial intelligence) chatbots in terms of the potential to support the curiosity, interest, and engagement (CIE) dynamic in urban learning environments. AI chatbots such as ChatGPT by OpenAI appear to be improving in conversational and other capabilities and this paper explores such advances using version 4. Based on a review of the research literature, a conceptual framework is formulated for cognitive flexibility and elaborative interrogation in support of curiosity, interest, and engagement in AI-rich urban learning environments. The framework is then operationalized for use in this paper in an effort to explore the potential of cognitive flexibility and elaborative interrogation in support of curiosity, interest, and engagement as an approach to the application and use of AI chatbots in the designing of urban learning spaces and services. This paper extends earlier foundational work on cognitive flexibility and AI chatbots, cognitive flexibility in support of AI chatbots in urban civic spaces, and the ethical and responsible use of AI chatbots to support teaching and learning.