Harvard releases a guide to AI use by age, built from more than 5,000 studies

Harvard University's Graduate School of Education has released the AI Guidance by Age Matrix, a free resource on how AI may help or hinder learning at different ages, Education Week reported. It draws on more than 5,000 pieces of research across 81 areas of development.

Users choose their role, such as teacher, parent or researcher, an area of development such as creativity or relationships, and an age range from early childhood to adulthood. The site then summarises what the research says about AI's likely effects on the skills that age group is building, with recommendations.

It is part of Compass Collaborative, an initiative launched on 10 November to bring developmental science into decisions about AI in education. Co-director Tessa Forshaw said a simple test applies: if an AI use moves students toward practising a skill or toward human relationships, "then generally you're in a really good place"; if it moves them away, it deserves a second thought.