Majority of U.S. Teens Turn to AI for Schoolwork as Cheating Concerns and Confidence Gaps Grow
Summary
More than half of U.S. teens are using AI chatbots for schoolwork and research, but confidence in using the technology remains low, cheating concerns are rising, and many fear AI's long-term impact on jobs and society.
Key Points
- Over half of U.S. teens are using AI chatbots for schoolwork and information searching, with 54% seeking academic help and 57% using them for research, while a smaller but notable 12% turn to chatbots for emotional support.
- Teens view AI's impact on their personal lives more positively than negatively, with 36% expecting a positive personal impact over the next 20 years, though concerns rise when considering society broadly, with 26% anticipating negative societal effects and overreliance and job loss cited as top fears.
- AI cheating is seen as widespread in schools, with 59% of teens saying it happens at least somewhat often among students, while AI literacy remains uneven as awareness is high but only about a quarter of teens report feeling extremely or very confident in their ability to use chatbots.