Cognitive Development and AI: A Longitudinal Study of Children and Adults Navigating Problem-Solving with AI Tools

Abstract

This study discusses the impact of AI tools on cognitive development, particularly on problem-solving skills. The age groups considered in the study are: 6-8 and 9-12, and adults 18-35 and above 36 years. A quantitative longitudinal research method was adapted to measure the improved cognitive outcomes that followed the use of AI tools. The data gathered was through the pre-test and post-test, surveys, questionnaires, and observational methods. Overarching cognitive benefits to the children, although smaller increases revealed children aged 9-12, still showed relatively higher cognitive development as compared to the one experienced in adults-again mostly observed within higher than 36 age range. The acquired data can yield inferences that explain why AI is actually potent only within building a few major components in children that fall in the younger ranges between 6 to 8 ages. This study has highlighted the cognitive growth of the ability of AI tools in support, especially for problem-solving and critical thinking skills, but on the other hand, it presents a differential effect of these tools across age groups. Findings are important for educators and developers, with an emphasis on designing age-specific AI tools to maximize learning outcomes. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the role of AI in education and provides a foundation for future studies exploring the long-term effects of AI on cognitive development across broader age ranges and diverse learning contexts.