5 things to know about teens' views on AI today

1. A majority of American teenagers view AI as a collaborative tool rather than a shortcut for bypassing learning. According to the U.S. Future Report, 94% of U.S. teens have used AI in the past year, but 74% utilize it weekly or more as an interactive study partner to deepen their understanding of complex topics and generate new ideas.

2. Generative AI is empowering teenagers with creative exploration and new skill acquisition. Teens recognize its potential to expand digital curiosity and promote creative growth. Rather than replacing human imagination, AI provides the momentum and resources needed to manifest their innovative ideas.

3. To ensure the credibility of AI-based information, teens employ multi-step checking strategies. While demonstrating critical thinking abilities independently, they also actively request structured, foundational digital literacy education to navigate digital environments safely. A substantial portion of teenagers (64%) believe that digital literacy and responsibility lessons should commence by the fifth grade.

4. Despite teenagers' growing independence online, family remains the core foundation for navigating digital safety and wellbeing. Over two-thirds (67%) of teens believe that young people should receive digital literacy and responsibility education beginning in fifth grade. However, current school curricula fall short of this demand, with only 57% of teens reporting that their schools offer digital literacy or technology classes.

Consequently, nearly one in three teenagers lacks access to formal instruction in these crucial areas.

5. Building a safe and empowering digital environment for young people is a collective responsibility that involves technology companies, policymakers, civil society, educators, families, and young people themselves.