By Rebecca Ruiz
Publication Date: 2026-02-24 15:00:00
Whether their parents are aware of it or not, nearly two-thirds of American teenagers say they use artificial intelligence chatbots for activities such as homework help, research, video creation, fun and entertainment, casual conversation, and emotional support or advice, according to a new study from the Pew Research Center.
The study’s survey of 1,458 U.S. teenagers and their parents last fall also found that the young participants had thought about the complex trade-offs of using AI. Almost a third of respondents said AI will have a positive impact on society over the next two decades, while a quarter of them believed it would have a negative impact.
The optimistic survey participants believed that AI would lead to improvements in efficiency, productivity and learning. Those with a less hopeful outlook cited the risks of over-reliance on AI, loss of jobs and creativity, and the danger of not being able to distinguish what is real and what is AI-generated.
