{
  "id": 9054926,
  "title": "Young users ditch Google for AI, with unknown consequences",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/young-users-ditch-google-for-ai-with-unknown-consequences",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-22T01:40:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-09-young-users-ditch-google-ai.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study highlights the limited understanding of how artificial intelligence (AI) affects younger students' learning and critical thinking skills. Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology found that the influence of AI use occurs during crucial developmental stages. Hilde Storrøsæter, a Ph.D. research fellow, analyzed 173 international articles on generative AI use in education. Her study, published in the Journal of Information Technology Education: Research, found that AI neither strengthens nor weakens children's ability to think critically and solve problems independently. Instead, AI can have a dual effect - supporting important skills when used appropriately, but increasing the risk of overdependence, superficial thinking, and weakened independent problem-solving when used as a shortcut for ready-made answers. The Norwegian Media Authority's survey shows that the use of Google searches among 9- to 18-year-olds has decreased from 72% in 2024 to 47% in 2026, while the use of AI tools among 11- to 12-year-olds has risen to 39%. Additionally, traffic to ung.no, Norway's online information and communication channel for young people, fell from 24 million to 18 million visits between 2024 and 2025. The researchers identified three major gaps in existing research on AI use: the age of participants, geographical representation, and the reliance on self-reporting methods. They emphasize the need for further research, particularly focusing on the specific ways AI tools are used, teachers' understanding of AI, and the demands placed on students and educators.",
  "summary": "Researchers have found that we know very little about how artificial intelligence use impacts younger school children's ability to learn and think.",
  "key_points": [
    "AI's impact on young students' critical thinking skills is unclear",
    "Google search usage among 9-18 year olds dropped from 72% to 47%",
    "AI tool usage among 11-12 year olds increased to 39%"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The shift from Google to AI among young users signals a potential change in how they develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with both supportive and detrimental effects possible depending on usage.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}