Two Surveys Find 90% of U.S. Students Used AI Chatbots

90% of U.S. students between ages 9 and 17 have used an artificial intelligence chatbot, according to a new survey by the JED Foundation. The group polled 5,500 students in schools across the country. A separate survey by Common Sense Media found that nearly two-thirds of tweens and teens use the technology regularly.

The JED Foundation study found that most students use chatbots for both academic and emotional purposes. Nearly two-thirds of respondents reported using AI for schoolwork and as companions when they felt stressed, lonely, anxious, or overwhelmed. Common Sense Media data shows that usage begins early. Nearly half of children aged 9 to 12 have used an AI chatbot or companion. By age 13, nearly three-quarters of kids have used the tools.

Anne Maheux, a developmental psychologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, described the rapid adoption as remarkable. She noted that it seems like only a few years ago when few kids used the technology. Now, she said, the number of students using AI for homework is roughly equal to the number using it for emotional support or coping.

Students describe specific workflows for their daily lives. Arjun Sharda, 15, of Round Rock, Texas, uses OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini to practice sample test questions. He prefers Gemini lately. He also uses the tools to understand concepts outside of the classroom. Sharda said he and his friends turn to chatbots when they are stressed. He recalled asking ChatGPT if he would be okay after a difficult chemistry test on conversions and moles.

McKenzie Craig, 17, of Raynham, Massachusetts, has used chatbots since eighth grade. She uses them to prioritize tasks when she is overwhelmed. She also runs essays through Grammarly or ChatGPT for grading. Craig said the feedback allows her to edit her work accordingly.

The JED Foundation researchers correlated AI use with indicators of well-being and mental health. Kayla Anderson, the foundation’s vice president of research and evaluation, said that when young people use AI during emotional distress, they are more likely to report poor mental health outcomes. These students also reported a greater history of suicidal thoughts and attempts. Anderson cautioned that the data do not suggest a causal link. It is unclear whether AI use contributes to poor mental health or if students already in distress are more likely to turn to the tools.

Maheux said preliminary data suggests the link might go both ways. Students with worse mental health may seek out AI for help. However, that use may exacerbate the challenges instead of solving them. In a study of middle schoolers in one state, Maheux and her colleagues found that students who used chatbots for companionship grew lonelier over time. They found similar results in a study of young adults.

Maheux explained that AI may ease immediate emotional distress like loneliness or anxiety. However, reliance on the technology may prevent young people from developing skills to tolerate daily stresses. She said this can lead to worse mental health over time.