Teen Talk: Students have their own worries about AI

Conversations about artificial intelligence (AI) are everywhere. We’ve heard from teachers, parents, policymakers, news sources, business and religious leaders, but we rarely hear directly from students — even though this is the generation that will likely be most personally impacted by its rapid growth.

For this issue of Teen Talk, I asked local high school (Running Start) and community college students for their direct feedback on AI and its impact. I created a survey to gain perspective on students’ usage of AI. It was distributed to two in-person classes and participation was voluntary, with 25 students responding to some and/or all of the questions. Some of the results might surprise you.

The bottom line is that AI has become part of my peers’ daily routines. The survey revealed that 75% of students use it regularly. The most common forms of AI used were chatbots, such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. These chatbots help with writing and research, can create workouts, and even generate photos.

These days, it’s hard to use a search engine without running into some kind of AI. For example, Google uses Google Gemini, while Bing incorporates Microsoft Copilot to provide faster, more direct answers. So even if you’re not actively trying to use AI, there’s a good chance it’s already helping pull together information when you search online.

While most teachers discourage AI use, the reality is that almost all students are using it anyway. Students reported using it for homework, brainstorming, writing, coding, entertainment, image and music creation, personal organization and studying (quizzes) or tutoring. In fact, more than half of the students said they primarily use AI to study or brainstorm ideas. However, students also noted using AI for meal planning, workouts, mental health advice and emotional support.

It’s clear that many students rely on AI, but they don’t always understand the full extent of its impact on the environment and society. Students expressed many of the same concerns about AI that have been raised by the broader public.

These include:

1. Brain drain: Most teachers often say they discourage AI because of “brain drain” and cheating. It turns out that this is a huge concern of local students, too. Students also said they were concerned about losing the ability to think critically with increased use of AI. There was nearly unanimous consensus when students were asked whether brain drain was occurring because of AI. Of those surveyed, 79% of students explicitly believe AI is reducing our collective ability to think critically, while 21% are unsure. None of the students answered “No” to this question.
2. Employment: AI also has a major impact on job security, with 88% of the students expressing concern and anxiety about AI limiting job opportunities.
3. Environmental impact: About 79% of students reported being either “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about AI’s environmental footprint.

Overall, the survey shows that AI is already being used in students’ daily lives, especially in education, even while many schools continue to debate if or how it should be used. At the same time, students are not blindly accepting AI’s growth. In fact, nearly half of those who completed the survey said they were unsure whether the benefits of AI outweigh its costs. However, those hesitations aren’t stopping people from using it.

These responses show that teens (high school and college) are somewhat conflicted. They are dependent on AI but also uncertain about it. Students recognize its convenience and usefulness, but they also want clearer guidance about its long-term effects.

As AI continues to shape schools, workplaces, and society, students should not be left out of the conversation. Their experiences and concerns show the importance of teaching young people not only how to use AI, but also how to think critically about the role it will play in their future.

Amelie LaPorte-Manahan is grateful to live in Edmonds. She is a junior at Seattle Prep High School where she is a part of the journalism club and Black Student Union. Amelie has also played varsity basketball and is currently playing on the varsity flag football and softball teams.