AI is changing how an entire generation learns, researches, and understands the world. But what happens when the history AI tells you is incomplete, biased, or flat-out wrong? And what happens when that history is yours?

“KidsKonnectUkraine’s AI & Critical Thinking initiative, developed in partnership with the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, is the first empirical study of its kind, examining how large language models like ChatGPT and Claude shape Ukrainian teens’ understanding of their own national history.” Over a six-to-eight-week program, students ages 13 to 15 engage directly with AI tools in both Ukrainian and English, investigating contested historical topics including the Maidan Revolution, the annexation of Crimea, and the Holodomor.

But this is not just a research project. It is a critical thinking bootcamp. Teacher-guided reconciliation sessions train students to compare AI-generated narratives against primary historical sources, identifying patterns like selective omission, linguistic bias, and factual errors. Students walk away with a skill set that goes far beyond history class: the ability to question, verify, and think independently in an age of AI-generated information.

The findings from this study will inform policy briefs for the Ukrainian government, UNESCO, and US and EU governance bodies, positioning KidsKonnectUkraine at the forefront of AI literacy and education in conflict zones.