---
title: "How Teens Use and View AI"
description: "Just over half of U.S. teens say they've used chatbots for help with schoolwork, and 12% say they’ve gotten emotional support from these tools. Teens tend to view AI's future impact on their lives more positively than negatively.\\n"
date: "2026-02-24"
authors:
  - name: "Colleen McClain"
    job_title: "Senior Researcher"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/colleen-mcclain/"
  - name: "Monica Anderson"
    job_title: "Director, Internet and Technology Research"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/monica-anderson/"
  - name: "Olivia Sidoti"
    job_title: "Research Analyst"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/olivia-sidoti/"
  - name: "William Bishop"
    job_title: "Research Associate"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/william-bishop/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/how-teens-use-and-view-ai/"
categories:
  - "Artificial Intelligence"
  - "Education & Learning Online"
  - "Teens & Tech"
  - "Teens & Youth"
---

# How Teens Use and View AI

## Table of Contents
1. [How Teens Use and View AI](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/how-teens-use-and-view-ai/markdown)
   - [Teens, schoolwork and AI](#teens-schoolwork-and-ai)
   - [How teens see AI’s impact](#how-teens-see-ai-s-impact)
   - [In their own words: Why do teens think AI will be good or bad for society?](#in-their-own-words)
   - [AI literacy: Confidence and awareness](#ai-literacy-confidence-and-awareness)
2. [Demographic differences in how teens use and view AI](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/demographic-differences-in-how-teens-use-and-view-ai/markdown)
3. [What parents say about their teen’s AI use](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/what-parents-say-about-their-teens-ai-use/markdown)
4. [Appendix: Detailed table](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/teens-and-ai-appendix-detailed-table/markdown)
5. [Acknowledgments](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/teens-and-ai-acknowledgments/markdown)
6. [Methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/methodology-240/markdown)

## Just over half of U.S. teens say they have used chatbots for help with schoolwork, and 12% say they’ve gotten emotional support. More teens think AI will be positive for them than negative

[![An image of a teen girl using her laptop with two others looking over her shoulder](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/02/PI_2026.02.24_teens-and-ai_featured.jpg)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=288554)
*(Hill Street Studios/Getty Images)*

**About this research**

This study is Pew Research Center’s latest effort to explore the landscape of teens and technology today. It focuses on artificial intelligence – from how teens use chatbots to how they think about AI’s future impact. The study also dives deeply into how teens use AI chatbots for schoolwork and explores teens’ confidence in and awareness of AI. And it unpacks their parents’ views, too.

#### Why did we do this?

The Center conducts research to inform the public, journalists and decision-makers. Tracking the [rise of AI in society](https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/internet-technology/emerging-technology/artificial-intelligence/) and understanding the [experiences of teens and their parents today](https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/internet-technology/user-demographics/age-generations-tech/teens-tech/) have been key priorities for us over the years. This study brings those two things together.

Teens are often at the forefront of new technology, and AI is no different: Our [December report](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/12/09/teens-social-media-and-ai-chatbots-2025/) showed that a majority of teens use AI chatbots. It’s important to understand how AI’s rise plays out in teens’ daily lives, at home and in school – as well as how their parents feel about these issues.

[Learn more about Pew Research Center](https://www.pewresearch.org/about/).

#### **How did we do this**?

We surveyed 1,458 U.S. teens and their parents online from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9, 2025. Our data collection partner Ipsos recruited the teens via their parents, who were part of its [KnowledgePanel](https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/solutions/public-affairs/knowledgepanel).

Findings about **teens’** views and experiences represent the views of all U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 who live with their parents.

Findings about **parents’** views and experiences represent the views of all U.S. parents of teens ages 13 to 17.

For both teens and parents, the overall margin of error is plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.

This research was reviewed and approved by an external institutional review board (IRB), Advarra. An IRB is an independent committee of experts that helps to protect the rights of research participants.

Here are the [questions used for this report](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/02/PI_2026.02.24_Teens-and-AI_TOPLINE.pdf), along with responses, and the[ survey methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/teens-and-ai-methodology/).

A [majority of U.S. teens say they use AI chatbots](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/12/09/teens-social-media-and-ai-chatbots-2025/), including about three-in-ten who do so daily. But what are they using them for? And how do they think artificial intelligence (AI) will impact their lives?

[![A bar chart that shows More than half of teens say they have used AI chatbots for finding information, doing schoolwork](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/02/PI_2026.02.24_teens-and-ai_0-01.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/how-teens-use-and-view-ai/pi_2026-02-24_teens-and-ai_0-01/)

Teens turn to chatbots like ChatGPT, Copilot and Character.ai for a variety of things – but **information seeking and schoolwork help top the list,** while “for fun” is not far behind:

- More than half of teens say they have used chatbots to **search for** **information** (57%) or **get help with schoolwork** (54%).

- And 47% say they’ve done so for **fun or entertainment.**

About four-in-ten each report using chatbots to **summarize articles, books or videos** or **create or edit images or videos. **And about one-in-five say they use chatbots to **get news, **according to Pew Research Center’s survey of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 conducted Sept. 25-Oct. 9, 2025.

[Concerns about young people using chatbots for companionship](https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Family/teens-turn-ai-companions-support-experts-share-parents/story?id=125473993) have caught the attention of parents, advocates and lawmakers. Our survey finds some teens are using chatbots in more personal ways: 16% of teens say they have used chatbots to **have casual conversations,** and 12% say they’ve used these tools to **get emotional support or advice. **Still, majorities of teens report not doing these things.

Below, we walk through findings from the effort, including [a deep dive into AI and schools](#teens-schoolwork-and-ai), [how teens see AI's impact](#how-teens-see-ai-s-impact) and [AI literacy](#ai-literacy-confidence-and-awareness).

**Teens’ experiences are far from one-size-fits-all.** To learn about how experiences differ by race, ethnicity, gender and household income, go to “[Demographic differences in how teens use and view AI](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/demographic-differences-in-how-teens-use-and-view-ai/).”

And to find out **what parents are making of this**, check out “[What parents say about their teen’s AI use](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/what-parents-say-about-their-teens-ai-use/).” A key takeaway? While about half of parents say their teen uses chatbots, higher shares of teens themselves (64%) report using them.

### Teens, schoolwork and AI

Helping with schoolwork ranks among the top reasons for teen chatbot use in our survey. As schools [move quickly to craft AI policies](https://www.edweek.org/technology/how-school-districts-are-crafting-ai-policy-on-the-fly/2025/10), students are already tapping into these tools for assignments. To that end, we asked teens the following questions:

[![A pie chart showing that 1 in 10 teens say they do all or most schoolwork with chatbots’ help](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/02/PI_2026.02.24_teens-and-ai_0-02.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=288234)

- How much of their schoolwork do chatbots help with?

- What tasks do they use it for?

- Do they find chatbots helpful for schoolwork?

- In their school, how common do they think cheating with AI is?

#### How much schoolwork is done with AI’s help

For a minority of teens, chatbots have become a go-to tool for much of their schoolwork.** One-in-ten teens say they do all or most of their schoolwork with chatbots’ help.**

Larger shares say they do some (21%) or a little (23%) of their schoolwork with the help of a chatbot. Another 45% haven’t used them in this way.

To see how these experiences differ by demographics, go to the sections on [race and ethnicity](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/demographic-differences-in-how-teens-use-and-view-ai/#how-chatbots-are-used-for-schoolwork) and [household income](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/demographic-differences-in-how-teens-use-and-view-ai/#household-income-differences-in-using-chatbots-for-schoolwork).

#### How teens use chatbots for schoolwork

[![A bar chart showing that More teens say they turn to chatbots for help with research or math than for editing](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/02/PI_2026.02.24_teens-and-ai_0-03.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=288235)

When it comes to *how *teens are using chatbots for school:

- About four-in-ten or more report having used them to get help **researching a topic** or **solving math problems.**

- By comparison, teens are less likely to turn to AI for help **editing something they wrote.** Still, 35% of teens say they have done this.

[![A bar chart showing that Roughly a quarter of all teens consider AI chatbots extremely or very helpful for their schoolwork](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/02/PI_2026.02.24_teens-and-ai_0-04.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/how-teens-use-and-view-ai/pi_2026-02-24_teens-and-ai_0-04/)

#### How helpful chatbots are

Teens are far more likely to say chatbots are helpful for schoolwork, rather than unhelpful.

In fact, **about a quarter of *all teens *say chatbots have been extremely or very helpful for completing their schoolwork,** and another 25% say they’ve been somewhat helpful.

Just 3% say these tools were of little to no help.

#### Schoolwork, cheating and chatbots

From [what counts as cheating](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-09-27/ai-students-cheating-tests-teachers-respond-lausd) to [trouble detecting it](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ai-detection-cheating-schools-b2894837.html), the rise of AI in classrooms has posed a thorny issue for teachers. Our survey shows that many teens think cheating with AI has become a regular feature of student life.

[![A bar chart showing that About 6 in 10 teens say students at their school use AI chatbots to cheat at least sometimes](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/02/PI_2026.02.24_teens-and-ai_0-05.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=288237)

**A majority of teens (59%) think using AI to cheat is a regular occurrence at their school – happening at least somewhat often.** This includes about a third who say it happens *extremely or very often.*

Another 14% of teens say students at their school rarely or never cheat using AI chatbots.

Still, some teens are unsure if this happens (15%).

Teens who have ever used chatbots for schoolwork help are especially likely to think cheating is a regular occurrence. About three-quarters (76%) of this group say students at their school use chatbots to cheat at least sometimes.

### How teens see AI’s impact

Along with understanding how teens are using chatbots, we also asked questions about their predictions for AI’s impact on them and society.

[![A bar chart showing that Teens are more positive than negative about how AI will impact them](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/02/PI_2026.02.24_teens-and-ai_0-06.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=288238)

**Teens tend to view the impact of AI on their own lives more positively than negatively.** While 36% say it’ll have a positive impact on them personally over the next 20 years, far fewer (15%) say this effect will be negative.

**Still, teens are more critical of its effect on society more broadly.** While 15% of teens think AI will have a negative impact on them personally over the next 20 years, that share rises to 26% when that same question is framed around society.

There are also gaps – though more modest – when looking at the positive side of AI. Teens are somewhat more likely to say AI will have a positive impact on them than on society (36% vs. 31%).

Still, similar shares of teens expect AI to have an equally positive or negative effect on both them and society. And some remain uncertain: 8% say they are unsure about AI’s impact on society over the next 20 years, while 17% say the same about its personal impact.

#### In their own words: Why do teens think AI will be good or bad for society?

After asking teens whether they think AI will have a positive or negative effect on society over the next 20 years, we asked them to describe – in their own words – why they felt this way.

[![A bar chart showing that Teens who are positive about AI’s future often mention it improving life, productivity; others are skeptical about loss of critical thinking skills, jobs](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/02/PI_2026.02.24_teens-and-ai_0-07.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=288239)

Three-in-ten teens who see AI positively impacting society think it’ll **make life better or easier.** About one-in-five each say it’ll be **good for learning or information** or make things **more efficient.**

Smaller shares of these teens mention that **evolving technology is the future** (8%), as well as AI **improving work** (8%), **education** (6%) or **health and health care** (5%).

Here are some quotes from teens **about the positive impacts of AI**, lightly edited for grammar and length:

**“Artificial intelligence will be able to be a force multiplier in terms of efficiency and accuracy. We are in … very early stages at this point. Everyone’s going to have to know how to use AI or they’ll be left behind.” – Teen boy**

**“It will meet the needs of almost everything. Answers to the hardest questions. No need for research!” – Teen boy**

*“It will do tasks that can be automated and allow people more time to do what they like.” – Teen girl*

**“It has the ability to help me learn things faster and better. As it gets to know me, it can fit me better.” – Teen boy**

*“Because it is very helpful with many things in life, like school, jobs, help you solving problems. Like, I feel it will help in every area in life.” – Teen girl*

Some of teens’ biggest worries on the **negative** side? Overreliance, and jobs.

Among those who think the impact will be negative, about a third (34%) mention **overreliance, loss of critical thinking or creativity.** A quarter talk about AI **taking people’s jobs.**

By comparison, about one-in-ten mention **misinformation or it being hard to tell what’s real.** An identical share say it’s that **AI is a threat or ripe for misuse.** Slightly fewer mention the **“human factor,”** **environmental impacts** or AI **hurting students or schooling.**

In teens’ own words:

*“It destroys young people’s minds and brains.” – Teen girl*

*“People will be afraid to be creative, or won’t see a need for it anymore. It makes people lazy and takes away jobs.” – Teen girl*

*“It’s already being used to spread propaganda, there’s no end to what it can do, it’s hard to tell what’s real or AI online anymore.” – Teen boy*

*“There are evil people in this world, and the wrong person could make AI turn against humans.” – Teen girl*

*“It is terrible for the environment and people rely too much on AI (to do school work, ask basic questions etc.).” – Teen boy*

Teens aren’t alone in their reasoning. Americans overall see [efficiency](https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2025/09/17/americans-on-the-risks-benefits-of-ai-in-their-own-words/ps_2024-9-15_ai-and-its-impact_3-03/) as one of AI’s key benefits. And we’ve seen notable shares of the U.S. public concerned about [job loss](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/04/03/views-of-risks-opportunities-and-regulation-of-ai/pi_2025-04-03_us-public-and-ai-experts_2-02/) due to AI.

#### Views on AI’s ability to perform human tasks

[![A bar chart showing that About half of teens think AI would do worse than humans in hiring, but they think AI holds a slight edge when it comes to teaching a skill](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/02/PI_2026.02.24_teens-and-ai_0-08.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=288240)

**Teens – **[**just like adults**](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/04/03/views-of-risks-opportunities-and-regulation-of-ai/pi_2025-04-03_us-public-and-ai-experts_2-07/)** – generally think AI would lose to humans across a range of tasks.** But they are most skeptical about hiring.

Roughly half say today’s AI would do worse than humans, rather than better, in making hiring decisions. Just 15% think AI would be better than people.

Teens are also more likely to think AI would do worse than humans at driving someone from one place to another, making a medical diagnosis or writing a song.

Their views are more divided when it comes to providing customer service, with about a third each saying AI will do a worse or better job.

**Teaching a skill is the only item asked about where a larger share of teens thought AI would best humans.** About a third say AI will do a better job than humans at teaching skills, while about a quarter say AI would do a worse job.

It is worth noting the level of uncertainty that young people feel about these questions. For example, about a quarter of teens say they’re unsure how AI would perform in cases like health care (25%) and employment (23%).[][]

### AI literacy: Confidence and awareness

[![A bar chart showing that Nearly all teens have heard about AI chatbots](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/02/PI_2026.02.24_teens-and-ai_0-09.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=288241)

AI literacy is on the minds of [parents](https://www.edweek.org/technology/parents-need-ai-literacy-lessons-too-a-new-toolkit-aims-to-help/2025/11), [educators](https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Living/teachers-embracing-ai-classroom/story?id=124990480) and researchers. Experts [are already calling this a crucial skill](https://www.apa.org/topics/artificial-intelligence-machine-learning/ai-literacy-teens) for teens – including [as a way to combat misinformation](https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2025/05/digital-literacy-ai-how-fight-misinformation-perfcon).

**Teens are already quite familiar with AI chatbots.** More than nine-in-ten say they have heard a lot (56%) or a little (39%) about them. Just 5% of teens say they’ve heard nothing at all.

Yet while awareness is high and use is becoming common, teens’ confidence in using chatbots varies.

[![A pie chart showing that About a quarter of teens say they are highly confident using chatbots](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/02/PI_2026.02.24_teens-and-ai_0-10.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=288242)

**About a quarter of teens report being extremely or very confident in their ability to use chatbots.** Roughly another three-in-ten say they’re somewhat confident.

And a small share of teens lack confidence in using these tools. About one-in-ten report having little to no confidence in their ability to use chatbots.

---

**Next:** [Demographic differences in how teens use and view AI](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/demographic-differences-in-how-teens-use-and-view-ai.md)