How Teens Use and View AI | Pew Research Center

Key Findings: How Teens Use and View AI

• Usage Statistics: A majority of U.S. teens (ages 13–17) use AI chatbots, with 64% reporting usage and 30% using them daily.
• Primary Use Cases:
  • Information seeking (57%)
  • Schoolwork help (54%)
  • Fun or entertainment (47%)
  • Summarizing content or creating/editing media (~40% each)
  • Personal use: 16% for casual conversation; 12% for emotional support.
• AI in Education:
  • 10% of teens use AI for all or most schoolwork; 44% use it for some or a little.
  • Common school tasks include researching topics and solving math problems.
  • 50% of teens find chatbots helpful for schoolwork; only 3% find them unhelpful.
  • Cheating: 59% of teens believe AI-assisted cheating is a regular occurrence at their school. This perception rises to 76% among teens who have used AI for schoolwork themselves.
• Perceptions of Impact (20-Year Outlook):
  • Personal: 36% expect a positive impact; 15% expect a negative impact.
  • Societal: 31% expect a positive impact; 26% expect a negative impact.
  • Positive Drivers: Increased efficiency, ease of life, and improved learning/information access.
  • Negative Concerns: Overreliance/loss of critical thinking (34%) and job displacement (25%).
• AI vs. Human Capability:
  • Teens generally believe AI performs worse than humans in hiring, driving, medical diagnosis, and creative writing.
  • Teens are most optimistic about AI’s ability to teach skills, with 33% believing it outperforms humans in that area.
• AI Literacy:
  • Awareness is high, with 95% of teens having heard at least a little about AI chatbots.
  • Confidence is moderate: roughly 55% report being at least "somewhat confident" in their ability to use these tools.
• Survey Methodology: Conducted by Pew Research Center among U.S. teens ages 13–17, Sept. 25–Oct. 9, 2025.