Exploring the Role, Implementation, and Educational Implications of AI in Early Childhood Education

In this paper we are examining the evolving landscape of the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in early childhood education. We are reviewing journal papers published over the past decade (2012–2023) (Ν = 29) and analyse them descriptively and through thematic analysis. We focus on the learning context and educational content of the AI applications in preschool settings. Research in the field has focused on areas such as the design and development of AI-powered tools and intelligent systems, the interaction of children with AI technologies and their impact on children’s skills and development, while more recently AI is being also viewed as a learning objective in the context of AI education and literacy. Our findings suggest that AI can be leveraged to foster a range of cognitive, social, and emotional skills through appropriate pedagogical frameworks and carefully designed pedagogical practices. The trends identified in the paper suggest the need for multidisciplinary approaches where technology, pedagogy, education, psychology, and policymaking intersect.