Teens Already Use AI—Here’s What They Want Us to Know

By Jeff Domansky

AI isn’t the future—it’s already here, and students use AI every day. From schoolwork to creative projects, they’re experimenting with AI learning tools in ways many adults haven’t even considered. But what do they really think about AI? And what should parents, teachers, and anyone guiding the next generation know?

A recent Harvard Center for Digital Thriving study asked students about AI learning directly; their answers were eye-opening. As someone who follows AI closely, I found their insights both refreshing and incredibly reassuring.

Teens Get AI—They Just Use It Differently

First off, teens aren’t afraid of AI. They’re embracing it. They use AI chatbots to brainstorm ideas, summarize challenging reading assignments, and even get unstuck on math problems. Some use it to spark creativity, generating essay topics or rewording tricky concepts in simpler terms.

But here’s the thing: They don’t see AI as replacing their own thinking. Instead, they see it as a tool to enhance learning—like a digital study buddy that never sleeps.

They Also Know the Risks of AI Tools

What surprised me was how aware these students were of the downsides. Unlike some adults who either hype AI up as the greatest invention ever or panic about it taking over the world, teens are striking a balance.

Many worry about over-relying on AI and losing the ability to think critically. They also know that AI isn’t always right—that it can make mistakes, spit out biased information, or just be plain wrong. Instead of blindly trusting it, they’re learning to fact-check and question what AI tells them.

We need to help them get better at it and get better at it ourselves!

Privacy? Yeah, They Care About That Too

Another misconception? That teens don’t care about privacy. They’re very aware of how AI collects and stores data. They don’t want to give up personal details and are skeptical about how companies use their information.

This tells me that the next generation isn’t just tech-savvy—they’re also privacy-conscious in a way that many adults weren’t growing up in the early days of the internet.

What They Want from Adults

Here’s where things get interesting. Teens don’t just want adults to let them figure AI out on their own. They want guidance—but from people who understand AI, not those who dismiss it or fear it.

They want teachers to help them use AI ethically. They want parents to understand the tools they’re using so they can have honest conversations about AI learning tools. And most importantly, they want adults to keep up—to stop treating AI like a passing fad and start learning alongside them.

So, What’s the AI Learning Takeaway?

If you’re an educator, a parent, or just someone interested in AI’s impact on society, the lesson here is clear: Teens are already ahead of the curve. They’re using AI responsibly, thinking critically about its risks, and looking for smart ways to use it in their lives.

What they don’t want? Outdated lectures about how “back in my day, we had to do everything by hand.” Instead, they want mentors who can help them navigate this AI-driven world—not people who pretend it doesn’t exist.

So, let’s do better. Let’s learn with them, guide them, and have real conversations about how to use AI wisely. Because whether we like it or not, AI is here to stay—and the next generation is already figuring out how to make the most of it.

You can check out more of our best AI learning and best AI student tools in our AI Tools Directory.

(Inspired by the Harvard study: Students Are Using AI Already—Here’s What They Think Adults Should Know)