Artificial intelligence usage has been steadily growing, not only among adults and professionals, but among youth. As they grow up in a digitally connected world, kids are leveraging AI, and so there’s never been a better time to familiarize ourselves with how and why.
The National 4-H Council released a survey that explores young people’s knowledge and use of artificial intelligence technology, specifically generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. The survey shows that while most young people (66 percent) express some understanding of what generative AI is and how it can be used, many kids (72 percent) are also seeking support from adults in learning how to use these tools correctly and confidently.
The survey, the first of its kind to include responses from both tweens and teenagers (ages 9-17), also finds that young people are broadly optimistic about the potential of generative AI for their education and careers. A strong majority of respondents (64 percent) agreed that generative AI would help them learn things that they will need to know in their future careers, and 58 percent said it would help them improve how they learn at school. However, respondents also have concerns about AI, including how the technology could be used for cheating or to expose private information about them.
The survey, which included 1,510 children ages 9-17, was fielded from November 5 t o 16, 2023, by Hart Research and supported by Microsoft.
“As America’s largest youth development organization, 4-H has an important role to play in educating youth about generative AI. Preparing young people for the workforce of the future means ensuring that they have a solid understanding of these new technologies that are reshaping our world,” said Jill Bramble, President and CEO of National 4-H Council. “We are focused on meeting this need through educational content on CLOVER, our new digital learning platform, and through 4-H’s Cooperative Extension in-person programs.”
Key findings from the survey include:
- Most kids say they know something about generative AI, but this knowledge is limited. Among all youth surveyed, 34% said they know “a great deal” or “a fair amount” about generative AI, while an equal number said they know “very little” or “nothing at all.” 32% said they know at least some about generative AI.
- Kids are optimistic about the impact of generative AI on their education and careers. 64% of all respondents agreed that generative AI will help them learn things that they will need to know in their future careers, and 58% said it would help them improve how they learn at school.
- Young people also have concerns about AI technology, including its potential uses for cheating and privacy issues. 61% of kids agree that AI will make it easier to cheat at school, and 53% expressed concerns that AI could find out private information about them.
- Kids want adults involved in learning how to use and engage with the AI tools they have used or might use in their lives. Over seven in 10 kids (72%) that use AI would like at least some help from adults in learning how to use different tools. This number was particularly high among younger children (84% of 9-12 year olds, compared to 63% of 13-17 year olds.)
- Young people involved in 4-H are particularly likely to have used generative AI. 60% of 4-Hers say they have used generative AI tools like ChatGPT, compared to 50% of all boys and 44% of all girls. This marks one of the highest totals among all sub-groups measured.
The survey also finds notable differences regarding AI understanding and use along demographic lines. In terms of race and ethnicity, black and Latino kids (74 percent and 67 percent) are more likely than white kids (61 percent) to see the positive impact of AI on their education and career. High school boys are the most likely to express a strong understanding of generative AI (43 percent), while girls in elementary school are the least likely (22 percent.) And while 38 percent of urban kids and 36 percent of suburban kids say they know a great deal or fair amount about generative AI, that number drops to 28 percent among rural children.
“Like with any new technology, we need to educate, empower and equip young people with the necessary skills to use generative AI in a responsible way,” said Courtney Gregoire, Chief Digital Safety Officer at Microsoft. “4-H’s findings help us all understand how youth are using these new tools. We welcome these insights as we continue to evolve our approach and provide additional resources to those who need them.”
The survey was designed and reviewed in a process involving experts from 4-H and University of California-Irvine. The survey was preceded by ten cognitive interviews with children within the target age group in October 2023 to test and refine the survey instrument. Children ages 9 to 12 were recruited exclusively through invitations sent initially to their parents or caregivers asking permission for them to participate. Children ages 13 to 17 were recruited directly.
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