A new Pew Research Center survey reveals that 26% of American teenagers now use ChatGPT for their schoolwork, up from 13% in 2023. According to research published by Olivia Sidoti, Black and Hispanic teens are more likely to use the AI chatbot for academic purposes compared to their White peers, with 31% adoption rates versus 22%. Upper-grade students show higher usage rates, with 31% of high school juniors and seniors using the tool compared to 20% of seventh and eighth graders. The study surveyed U.S. teens aged 13 to 17.
Teenagers’ awareness of ChatGPT has also increased significantly, with 79% now familiar with the technology compared to 67% last year. When it comes to acceptable uses, 54% of teens believe using ChatGPT for research is appropriate, while only 18% approve of using it for writing essays. Income levels affect awareness, with 84% of teens from higher-income households knowing about ChatGPT, compared to 67% from lower-income families. However, the largest growth in awareness occurred among lower-income households, showing a 26 percentage point increase since 2023.