Gen Z uses AI often, but more teens say they worry about relying on it

In short: Gen Z is using generative AI a lot for school and everyday tasks, while more teens are also questioning how much they should depend on it.

What's going on

Gallup data suggests AI use is now a regular habit for many young people. About half of people ages 14 to 29 say they use AI at least weekly, with 22 percent using it daily and 29 percent weekly. Gallup also found that usage has been fairly steady since March 2025, but attitudes have become more cautious.

This fits with broader reporting and surveys that show AI spreading through school and daily life. Many Gen Z users turn to generative AI, which is the type that can write, summarize, and answer questions (like a fast homework helper that can also make mistakes). It is used for studying, planning, and entertainment, not just for class assignments.

At the same time, some teens are organizing around AI in clubs and community discussions, including debates about where the technology should be used and how it should be built. Others are worried about getting too used to it. CNN has described teens using AI to draft texts and handle tough conversations, a behavior some researchers call “social offloading,” meaning you hand part of your social life to a tool.

Health researchers and professional groups, including the American Psychological Association, have warned that heavy use can lead to unhealthy dependence and can blur the line between human relationships and machine interactions. Some studies report links with problems like sleep loss, worse school performance, and strained in person relationships. Other research is less alarmist, finding that self reported dependence did not predict later anxiety or depression, and that existing mental health problems were more likely to lead to higher AI dependence.

What to watch

Schools, parents, and teen groups may focus less on banning AI and more on setting clear rules for when it is helpful and when it starts replacing real learning and real conversations.

Source: NYTimes