{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,18]],"date-time":"2026-05-18T18:08:12Z","timestamp":1779127692958,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,28]],"date-time":"2025-07-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1753660800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Computers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This article investigates the revolutionary potential of AI-powered virtual assistants in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) environments, concentrating primarily on their impact on special needs schooling. We investigate the complex characteristics of these virtual assistants, the influential elements affecting their development and implementation, and the joint efforts of educational institutions and technology developers, using a rigorous quantitative approach. Our research also looks at strategic initiatives aimed at effectively integrating AI into educational practices, addressing critical issues including infrastructure, teacher preparedness, equitable access, and ethical considerations. Our findings highlight the promise of AI technology, emphasizing the ability of AI-powered virtual assistants to provide individualized, immersive learning experiences adapted to the different needs of students with special needs. Furthermore, we find strong relationships between these virtual assistants\u2019 features and deployment tactics and their subsequent impact on educational achievements. This study contributes to the increasing conversation on harnessing cutting-edge technology to improve educational results for all learners by synthesizing current research and employing a strong methodological framework. Our analysis not only highlights the promise of AI in increasing student engagement and comprehension but also emphasizes the importance of tackling ethical and infrastructure concerns to enable responsible and fair adoption.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/computers14080306","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,28]],"date-time":"2025-07-28T14:05:47Z","timestamp":1753711547000},"page":"306","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Artificial Intelligence and Immersive Technologies: Virtual Assistants in AR\/VR for Special Needs Learners"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1244-4448","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Azza","family":"Mohamed","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Engineering and Computing, Liwa University, Al Ain P.O. Box 41009, United Arab Emirates"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6959-8942","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rouhi","family":"Faisal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Business, Liwa University, Al Ain P.O. Box 41009, United Arab Emirates"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0097-5743","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ahmed","family":"Al-Gindy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"AZTech Training and Consultancy Company, Dubai P.O. Box 74716, United Arab Emirates"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0823-8390","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Khaled","family":"Shaalan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Engineering and IT, The British University in Dubai, Dubai P.O. Box 345015, United Arab Emirates"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Melo-L\u00f3pez, V.-A., Basantes-Andrade, A., Gudi\u00f1o-Mej\u00eda, C.-B., and Hern\u00e1ndez-Mart\u00ednez, E. (2025). The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Inclusive Education: A Systematic review. Educ. Sci., 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/educsci15050539"},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Silva, R., Carvalho, D., Martins, P., and Rocha, T. (September, January 31). Virtual Reality as a solution for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A state-of-the-art systematic review. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Software Development and Technologies for Enhancing Accessibility and Fighting Info-Exclusion, Lisbon, Portugal."},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"381","article-title":"Adaptive learning pathways using AI for students with learning disabilities","volume":"55","author":"Zhang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Br. J. Educ. Technol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Frasson, C., Mylonas, P., and Troussas, C. (2023). Metaverse and Virtual Environment to Improve Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Students\u2019 Learning. Augmented Intelligence and Intelligent Tutoring Systems, Springer. ITS 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-32883-1"},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"54","article-title":"Eye tracking and gesture-based interactions in VR learning systems for special education","volume":"40","author":"Alshammari","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Comput. Assist. Learn."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1186\/s40561-025-00374-5","article-title":"Emotion recognition for enhanced learning: Using AI to detect students\u2019 emotions and adjust teaching methods","volume":"12","author":"Salloum","year":"2025","journal-title":"Smart Learn. Environ."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Voultsiou, E., and Moussiades, L. (2025). A systematic review of AI, VR, and LLM applications in special education: Opportunities, challenges, and future directions. Educ. Inf. Technol., 1\u201341.","DOI":"10.1007\/s10639-025-13550-4"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gupta, M., and Kaul, S. (2024). AI in Inclusive Education: A Systematic Review of Opportunities and Challenges in the Indian Context. MIER J. Educ. Stud. Trends Pract., 429\u2013461.","DOI":"10.52634\/mier\/2024\/v14\/i2\/2702"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"473","DOI":"10.15388\/infedu.2020.21","article-title":"Voice assistants and smart speakers in everyday life and in education","volume":"19","author":"Terzopoulos","year":"2020","journal-title":"Inform. Educ."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8071","DOI":"10.1007\/s10639-022-10947-3","article-title":"Understanding key drivers affecting students\u2019 use of artificial intelligence-based voice assistants","volume":"27","author":"Shaalan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Educ. Inf. Technol."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1186\/s40561-021-00170-x","article-title":"Smart education framework","volume":"8","author":"Demir","year":"2021","journal-title":"Smart Learn. Environ."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9189","DOI":"10.1007\/s10639-023-12158-w","article-title":"Application of technological pedagogical content knowledge in smart classrooms: Views and its effect on students\u2019 performance in chemistry","volume":"29","author":"Jammeh","year":"2023","journal-title":"Educ. Inf. Technol."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1897","DOI":"10.1080\/10494820.2020.1753216","article-title":"What impacts learning with wearables? An integrated theoretical model","volume":"30","author":"Arpaci","year":"2022","journal-title":"Interact. Learn. Environ."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.1080\/10691316.2020.1796879","article-title":"Immersive learning: Applications of virtual reality for undergraduate education","volume":"27","author":"Hurrell","year":"2021","journal-title":"Coll. Undergrad. Libr."},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"673","article-title":"RLFL: A reinforcement learning aggregation approach for hybrid federated learning systems using full and ternary precision","volume":"1","author":"Imani","year":"2024","journal-title":"IEEE J. Emerg. Sel. Top. Circuits Syst."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mohamed, A., Faisal, R., and Shaalan, K. (2024). Exploring the Impact of AI-Driven Virtual Assistants in AR and VR environments for Special Needs Education: A Quantitative analysis. Extended Reality, Springer. Lecture notes in computer science.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-71713-0_8"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kurni, M., Mohammed, M.S., and Srinivasa, K.G. (2023). AR, VR, and AI for Education BT. A Beginner\u2019s Guide to Introduce Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Learning, Springer International Publishing.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-32653-0_7"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"142","DOI":"10.1080\/10494820.2018.1558257","article-title":"Intelligent tutoring systems: A systematic review of characteristics, applications, and evaluation methods","volume":"29","author":"Mousavinasab","year":"2021","journal-title":"Interact. Learn. Environ."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"953","DOI":"10.4236\/ce.2020.116069","article-title":"Effects of intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) on personalized learning (PL)","volume":"11","author":"Akyuz","year":"2020","journal-title":"Creat. Educ."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1186\/s40594-018-0110-y","article-title":"ElectronixTutor: An intelligent tutoring system with multiple learning resources for electronics","volume":"5","author":"Graesser","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. STEM Educ."},{"key":"ref_21","first-page":"2803","article-title":"Developing an early-warning system through robotic process automation: Are intelligent tutoring robots as effective as human teachers?","volume":"32","author":"Hu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Interact. Learn. Environ."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Williford, B., Runyon, M., Li, W., Linsey, J., and Hammond, T. (2020, January 25\u201330). Exploring the potential of an intelligent tutoring system for sketching fundamentals. Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Honolulu, HI, USA.","DOI":"10.1145\/3313831.3376517"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104099","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compedu.2020.104099","article-title":"Can digital technologies improve students\u2019 efficiency? Exploring the role of Virtual Learning Environment and Social Media use in Higher Education","volume":"163","author":"Lacka","year":"2021","journal-title":"Comput. Educ."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"Tang, K.H.D., and Kurnia, S. (2015, January 26\u201327). Perception of 2014 Semester 2 Foundation Engineering Students of Curtin University Sarawak on the Usage of Moodle for Learning. Proceedings of the 3rd International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Conference, Miri, Malaysia."},{"key":"ref_25","first-page":"154","article-title":"3-in-1 Hybrid Learning Environment","volume":"31","author":"Hapke","year":"2021","journal-title":"Mark. Educ. Rev."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"713","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neucom.2020.02.125","article-title":"Artificial neural network analysis of the academic performance of students in virtual learning environments","volume":"423","author":"Rivas","year":"2021","journal-title":"Neurocomputing"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7893","DOI":"10.1007\/s10639-022-10925-9","article-title":"Artificial intelligence in online higher education: A systematic review of empirical research from 2011 to 2020","volume":"27","author":"Ouyang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Educ. Inf. Technol."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"042025","DOI":"10.1088\/1742-6596\/1521\/4\/042025","article-title":"Virtual laboratory for enhancing students\u2019 understanding on abstract biology concepts and laboratory skills: A systematic review","volume":"1521","author":"Udin","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Phys. Conf. Ser."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"16","DOI":"10.1186\/s41239-021-00254-1","article-title":"Shaping the future learning environments with smart elements: Challenges and opportunities","volume":"18","author":"Cheung","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Educ. Technol. High. Educ."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"237","DOI":"10.1111\/jcal.12610","article-title":"Chatbots for language learning\u2014Are they useful? A systematic review of chatbot-supported language learning","volume":"38","author":"Huang","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Comput. Assist. Learn."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kuleto, V., Ili\u0107, M., Dumangiu, M., Rankovi\u0107, M., Martins, O.M.D., P\u0103un, D., and Mihoreanu, L. (2021). Exploring Opportunities and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Higher Education Institutions. Sustainability, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/su131810424"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"725","DOI":"10.1007\/s40593-021-00243-5","article-title":"Exploring Teachers\u2019 Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence as a Tool to Support their Practice in Estonian K-12 Education","volume":"32","author":"Chounta","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Artif. Intell. Educ."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"568","DOI":"10.1177\/20965311221143798","article-title":"Enterprising Academics: Heterarchical Policy Networks for Artificial Intelligence in British Higher Education","volume":"6","author":"Gellai","year":"2022","journal-title":"ECNU Rev. Educ."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4221","DOI":"10.1007\/s10639-022-11316-w","article-title":"Ethical principles for artificial intelligence in education","volume":"28","author":"Nguyen","year":"2023","journal-title":"Educ. Inf. Technol."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"616","DOI":"10.1007\/s11528-022-00715-y","article-title":"The Promises and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence for Teachers: A Systematic Review of Research","volume":"66","author":"Celik","year":"2022","journal-title":"TechTrends"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20163","DOI":"10.1103\/PhysRevPhysEducRes.19.020163","article-title":"Toward AI grading of student problem solutions in introductory physics: A feasibility study","volume":"19","author":"Kortemeyer","year":"2023","journal-title":"Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Almusaed, A., Almusaed, A., Yitmen, I., and Homod, R. (2023). Enhancing Student Engagement: Harnessing \u201cAIED\u201d\u2019s Power in Hybrid Education\u2014A Review Analysis. Educ. Sci. J., 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/educsci13070632"},{"key":"ref_38","unstructured":"Nguyen, A., Kremantzis, M., Essien, A., Petrounias, I., and Hosseini, S. Enhancing Student Engagement Through Artificial Intelligence (AI): Understanding the Basics, Opportunities, and Challenges, University of Bristol."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chalkiadakis, A., Seremetaki, A., Kanellou, A., Kallishi, M., Morfopoulou, A., Moraitaki, M., and Mastrokoukou, S. (2024). Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality on Educational Inclusion: A Systematic Review of Technologies Supporting Students with Disabilities. Educ. Sci., 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/educsci14111223"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Al-Marzouqi, A., Salloum, S., Shaalan, K., Gaber, T., and Masa\u2019deh, R. (2025). The Role of Generative AI in Virtual and Augmented Reality. Generative AI in Creative Industries, Springer. Studies in Computational Intelligence.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-89175-5"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"133908","DOI":"10.1109\/ACCESS.2024.3433531","article-title":"Exploring the Role of AI and VR in Addressing Antisocial Behavior among Students: A Promising Approach for Educational Enhancement","volume":"12","author":"Mohamed","year":"2024","journal-title":"IEEE Access"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nguyen, N.D. (2023). Exploring the role of AI in education. Lond. J. Soc. Sci., 84\u201395.","DOI":"10.31039\/ljss.2023.6.108"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mercier, E., Goldstein, M.H., Baligar, P., and Rajarathinam, R.J. (2023). Collaborative learning in engineering education. International Handbook of Engineering Education Research, Routledge.","DOI":"10.4324\/9781003287483-23"}],"container-title":["Computers"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-431X\/14\/8\/306\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T18:17:26Z","timestamp":1760033846000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-431X\/14\/8\/306"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,28]]},"references-count":43,"journal-issue":{"issue":"8","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8]]}},"alternative-id":["computers14080306"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/computers14080306","relation":{},"ISSN":["2073-431X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2073-431X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,28]]}}}