Teen Minds on AI: Cheating, Support and Future Hopes

The latest survey shows that most American teens think their classmates are turning to AI tools for cheating, while a smaller share use them for emotional help. Researchers gathered responses from 1, 458 teens and their parents to explore how the new technology is woven into daily life. Two‑thirds of students admitted to using chatbots like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, mainly for research and homework. Nearly 60 % reported that peers use these tools to cheat on assignments at least a few times. The study did not ask teens if they themselves cheated, so the perception may differ from reality.When asked about personal use, about half of those who used AI for schoolwork said they relied on it mainly for researching topics rather than editing their own writing, suggesting a boundary between helpful and dishonest use. Some education leaders propose that teachers should conduct in‑class writing tests or quiz students on home work to counteract cheating. Others warn that overreliance could erode confidence; a Stanford study found students who depended on AI performed worse when it was removed. Only about 12 % of teens used AI for emotional support or advice, a practice that most parents disapproved of. Critics argue that talking to an AI can foster unrealistic expectations and risky thinking in young users. When asked about the future, teens were more optimistic than adults. Roughly a quarter of them foresee negative societal impacts from AI over the next two decades, while last year half of adults expressed more worry than excitement about AI’s growing role.