Region - Educational Research and Reviews

Technological revolutions have historically been accompanied by social transformations and anxieties. In the context of rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), AI anxiety has emerged as a novel emotional response, attracting growing scholarly attention. Currently, the rapid integration of generative AI (e.g., DeepSeek) into China’s educational sector has profoundly impacted kindergarten teachers. The educational community exhibits ambivalent attitudes toward DeepSeek, with some teachers expressing concerns about its potential risks in early childhood education. To harness the opportunities presented by large language models while mitigating associated educational challenges, this study employs literature review, case analysis, and teacher interviews to investigate the types and etiology of AI anxiety among Chinese kindergarten teachers using DeepSeek. Furthermore, it proposes practical strategies to alleviate such anxiety and optimize AI applications in education.