ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ELEMENTARY EDUCATION: POTENTIALS FOR LEARNING PERSONALIZATION AND ETHICAL CHALLENGES

Abstract

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the 21st century imposes a significant transformation on the educational sector, with a special focus on Elementary Education (Ensino Fundamental in Brazil), a crucial phase for cognitive development. The main potential of AI lies in learning personalization, where adaptive systems and intelligent tutors analyze student performance and learning style to create dynamic and individualized educational pathways. Furthermore, AI assists teachers in task automation and in providing immediate feedback. However, this technological insertion is marked by urgent ethical and practical challenges, such as protecting children's data privacy and security, mitigating algorithmic biases that can perpetuate inequalities, addressing the issue of equitable access to technology (digital divide), and the risk of compromising the development of critical thinking and human skills due to over-reliance. The conclusion is that AI must be adopted responsibly, demanding clear regulations, teacher training in digital literacy, and investments in infrastructure to ensure it acts as a strategic ally, guaranteeing a more just, inclusive, and human-centered education.