Over Half of US Teens Use AI for Schoolwork, Pew Data Shows

If you want to understand where AI is headed next, look at teenagers. A new Pew Research Center survey shows that most US teens are already using AI chatbots, especially for schoolwork, and many are doing so regularly.

Nearly two-thirds of teens ages 13 to 17 say they have used tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, or Character.ai, and about 3 in 10 say they use them daily. More than half report turning to chatbots for help with assignments or research, and 12% say they have used AI for emotional support.

The findings also highlight how teens expect AI to affect their personal lives and society over the next 20 years.

AI is embedded in school, social life

Pew Research Center released new findings on Feb. 24 based on a survey conducted from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9, 2025, among 1,458 US teens and their parents. Researchers noted that:

• About 64% of teens reported using AI chatbots. 
• Teens use AI tools for a range of purposes, with more than half saying they have turned to chatbots to search for information (57%) or get help with schoolwork (54%).
• Another 47% said they use them for fun or entertainment.
• Around 16% reported having casual conversations with the tools.
• 12% reported using them for emotional support or advice. 

When it comes to schoolwork help, AI use varies: 1 in 10 teens report completing all or most of their assignments with chatbot assistance.

“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,” the researchers wrote.

Most teens described the tools as helpful. About a quarter said chatbots have been extremely or very helpful in completing assignments. Another 25% stated the tools were somewhat helpful, while only 3% believed they were of little to no help. 

However, cheating remains a concern, with 59% of teens thinking that using AI to cheat is a regular occurrence at their school. Among teens who have used chatbots for schoolwork, 76% reported that students at their school occasionally use these tools to cheat.

Teens say AI is helping them, but worry about society

Teens’ outlooks on AI differ depending on the lens through which you view it. About 36% of the respondents believe AI will have a positive impact on their lives over the next 20 years, while 15% think it will have a negative effect. 

When asked about society as a whole, teens were more cautious. Around 26% predicted AI would negatively affect society, while 31% said it would have a positive impact. 

Others also raised concerns about overreliance and job loss. One of the respondents said, “People will be afraid to be creative or won’t see a need for it anymore. It makes people lazy and takes away jobs.”

The survey also assessed how teens think AI performs compared with humans, and researchers found that roughly half explained that AI would do worse than humans at making hiring decisions. Teens also believe AI would underperform humans at driving people from place to place, diagnosing medical conditions, or composing songs.

As AI tools become more common in classrooms and daily life, teens appear to be both active users and critical observers of the technology shaping their future. 

To learn how Google is expanding AI literacy in classrooms, read our coverage of Google offering free AI training to 6 million US educators.

The post Over Half of US Teens Use AI for Schoolwork, Pew Data Shows appeared first on eWEEK.