A recent survey by Common Sense Media, Hopelab, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Center for Digital Thriving, reveals that while young Americans are quickly embracing generative AI as a tool, it hasn’t yet become a daily habit.
Historically, young users have been early adopters and shapers of dominant tech platforms since the rise of the web 30 years ago. Understanding their engagement with AI provides insights into future tech trends and usage patterns.
The survey of 1,274 U.S.-based teens and young adults, conducted in October and November 2023, found:
– Only 4% of respondents aged 14-22 use AI tools daily or almost daily.
– 41% have never used AI, and 8% are unaware of what AI tools are.
– The most common uses for AI are getting information (53%) and brainstorming (51%).
– AI is used for schoolwork by 40% of white respondents, 62% of Black respondents, and 48% of Latino respondents.
A plurality (41%) expect AI to have both positive and negative impacts over the next 10 years. However, perceptions vary significantly:
– 28% of LGBTQ+ respondents expect mostly negative impacts, compared to 17% of cisgender/straight respondents.
While generative AI is gaining traction among teens and young adults, it hasn’t yet become a daily tool for most. It would be a stunning reversal if older segments of the population were faster at adopting a new technology than younger people.
