Stefania Druga

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About

Stefania Druga is a leading researcher at the intersection of child-computer interaction, artificial intelligence, and learning sciences. Her work investigates how children perceive, interact with, and learn from intelligent agents, including smart toys, voice assistants, and AI-powered devices. In her highly cited 2018 paper, “How smart are the smart toys?” (86 citations), Druga explored how children’s attributions of intelligence to computational objects shape their understanding of agency, learning, and trust. This foundational study revealed that children’s perceptions of smartness are deeply tied to a device’s interactive behavior, not just its functionality. Druga’s broader contributions include designing participatory AI literacy tools and frameworks that empower children to become critical creators—not just consumers—of AI. Her work has been instrumental in shaping ethical guidelines for child-centered AI design and has influenced both academic discourse and industry practices. Through her research, Druga has demonstrated that children are not passive users but active sense-makers of intelligent technologies, paving the way for more inclusive, developmentally appropriate AI systems.