Irvine, California, March 26, 2025 – The rapid emergence of technologies generating artificial intelligence has aroused concerns about the potential adverse effects of AI on the security, learning and development of young people. While the AI becomes more widespread in classrooms and houses, parents and educators are impatient to advise responsible for this scalable landscape.
Researchers from the University of California, Irvine and Foundry10 recently led a national investigation to mixed methods on the perceptions and experiences of parents, teachers and adolescents of use and experiences with generator and more traditional forms of AI. The National Science Foundation supported the study.
“Digital technologies move quickly, but the generative models of AI hit the company and young users at a breathtaking speed. Everyone rushes to understand how our children can be affected. Candice OdgersUC Irvine Professor of Psychological Sciences and IT, who led research with GILLIAN HAYESProfessor of Chancellor UC Irvine and Chaise Robert A. and Barbara L. Kleist in computer science, and Jennifer Rubinprincipal researcher at Foundry10.
The initial study took place between November 2025 and May 2025, with investigation issues in two national samples: 1,510 adolescents (aged 9 to 17) and 2,826 parents of kindergarten students in the 12th year in the United States. Additional data was collected from June to September 2025 through conversations with discussion groups, including parents, teachers and adolescents.
The results of the research team illustrate the emerging role – but not yet central – AI platforms in the life of adolescents. While almost half (45%) said they used the Chatppt or similar products in the last month, the use of more specialized AI tools – such as virtual friends or mental health chatbots – was much less common. Adolescents did not report the use of AI tools frequently in their regular routines, with only 7% indicating daily use of generative AI. Few adolescents (less than 6%) said they had undergone negative social or school impacts from their use of AI, while most teenage users (69%) said that the generator had helped them learn something new.
“Parents, teachers and adolescents differ in their use and their response to a generative AI, with, for example, only one of the parents of generative AI like Chatgpt. Unsurprisingly, adolescents seem to be earlier and more eager to adopt AI, with their parents and teachers varying considerably in terms of familiarity, openness and comfort with these new tools, “said Kelli Dickerson, an Irvine Project project.
The survey results also suggest that, currently, the rapid introduction and the absorption of generative AI may not considerably expand existing inequalities in adolescents.
“We have been shocked to see that, at least for the moment, teenagers of lower income families compared to a higher income did not vary substantially in their adoption or their use of generative AI, which is commonly observed with the introduction of new digital or educational technologies. This is an exciting period for researchers and development designers to meet and develop responsible technologies to improve the life of students, ”said Hayes.
The researchers highlight the importance of continuing to monitor the uses, experiences and perceptions of young people over time, in particular the evaluation of the way in which policies related to AI affects the commitment of young people and the guarantee of access and equitable advantages on AI for all young people.
This study was carried out in collaboration with the Ceres Network,, Foundry10,, Hart Research (on Name of the National Council 4-H) And Norc at the University of Chicago (In the name of Ceres). NSF Award 2334172 and a Microsoft gift supported the work.
About the brilliant future campaign of UC Irvine: Launched publicly on October 4, 2019, the Brilliant future countryside aims to raise awareness and support the university. By hiring 75,000 alumni and collecting $ 2 billion in philanthropic investment, UC Irvine seeks to reach new heights of excellence in the success, health and well-being of students, research and more. The Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Sciences and the School of Social Ecology play a vital role in the success of the campaign. Learn more about https://brilliantfuture.uci.edu/donald-bren-school-of-ics And https://brilliantfuture.uci.edu/uci-school-of-social-ecology.
About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious association of American universities and is classified among the 10 best public universities in the country per US News & World Report. The campus produced five winners of the Nobel Prize and is known for its academic results, its leading research, its innovation and its antiateer mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 diploma programs. It is located in one of the safest and most dynamic communities in the world and is the second employer in Orange, contributing $ 7 billion a year to the local economy and 8 billion dollars across the state. To find out more about UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.
Access to media: Radio programs / stations can, with costs, use a studio on the campus with a Comrex IP audio codec to interview teachers and experts from the IRVINE, subject to availability and university approval. For more new UC Irvine, visit News.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists can be found to https://news.uci.edu/media-resources.
Finn founded Learnopoly to provide unbiased, in-depth online course reviews, helping learners make informed choices. With a decade in financial services, he developed strategic partnerships and business development expertise. After a frustrating experience with a biased course review, Finn was inspired to create a trusted learning resource.