A majority of American teenagers believe that their classmates are using artificial intelligence to cheat in school, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center, shedding light on how the next generation is navigating a world increasingly shaped by AI. The study, highlighted by the Washington Post, surveyed 1,458 teens aged 13 to 17 and their parents, capturing early insights into how young people use AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Copilot for both academic and personal purposes.
About two-thirds of teens reported using AI chatbots themselves, primarily to search for information and get help with schoolwork. Nearly six in ten said that students at their schools use AI to cheat at least “somewhat often,” though the survey did not define cheating or ask respondents whether they personally engaged in it. Colleen McClain, lead author of the study, emphasized that teens’ perceptions may not reflect actual behavior but illustrate widespread concern about AI in educational settings.
While AI is being leveraged for research and homework, some educators and researchers warn of unintended consequences. Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, recommended that teachers adapt by conducting in-class writing assessments or testing students on out-of-class assignments to confirm learning and reduce AI misuse. Others, like Stanford professor Guilherme Lichand, point to deeper concerns: in a recent experiment, middle school students who relied on AI for one assignment performed worse on a subsequent task when AI assistance was removed, suggesting that overreliance could undermine confidence and problem-solving skills. A Brookings Institution report has raised similar alarms about AI dependence among students.
The survey also revealed that roughly 12 percent of teens use AI for emotional support or advice, a practice parents largely disapprove of. Since the rise of ChatGPT in 2022, both children and adults have turned to AI for companionship and guidance, though experts caution that such use may pose psychological risks and encourage delusional thinking in young people.
Despite concerns, teens appear more optimistic than adults about AI’s future impact. Only about one-quarter of teenagers in the Pew survey predicted that AI would negatively affect society over the next two decades, compared with roughly half of adults in similar questions last year who said they were “more concerned than excited” about the growing role of AI in daily life.
