AI companions are increasingly marketed as friendly, supportive, and always available, but for students, parents, and schools, relying on assumptions or fear-based messaging isn’t enough.

Families need clear, accurate information, space to reflect, and practical guidance to navigate how AI companions actually work, and how they can affect emotional development, privacy, and real-world relationships.

‍Understanding AI Companions is an interactive course designed to help participants make sense of this rapidly emerging technology with clarity and confidence.

Rather than focusing on panic or prohibition, the course explores how AI companions are designed, why they can feel emotionally real, and where risks can appear, especially for children and teens. Participants examine how validation, personalization, and constant availability shape behavior, and why human connection still matters most.

Through guided activities, reflection prompts, and real-world scenarios, learners are encouraged to question assumptions, recognize early warning signs of over-reliance, and develop healthy boundaries around AI use.

The course emphasizes practical skills: how to talk with children without shutting them down, how to set family expectations that grow with age, and how to keep AI as a tool, not a substitute for real support.

Designed as a ready-to-use resource for families and schools, the course includes interactive knowledge checks, printable parent tools, reflection activities, and a certificate of completion, prioritizing understanding over compliance and empowerment over fear.