New drop: How AI Companions shape learner’s socio-emotional learning and metacognitive development...

AI Companions are now used by over a billion people worldwide, including learners of all types. While originally marketed for entertainment and wellness, these technologies are increasingly entwined with how individuals manage relationships, regulate emotions, and even approach learning. This ubiquity raises pressing questions for education and society: how do AI Companions affect students’ socio-emotional development, metacognitive capacities, and sense of agency? Despite their global reach, little is known about their role in shaping learning and personal growth.