Your teen is probably using AI for homework

By Paulo Vargas Published March 2, 2026

A new Pew Research Center survey confirms a parent’s hunch. Your teen is probably using AI for homework. More than half of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 say they have turned to chatbots like ChatGPT or Copilot for school tasks. The data, collected in fall 2025, offers the clearest look yet at how AI has reshaped student life.

But the numbers tell a nuanced story. While 54 percent have used AI for school, only about one in ten rely on it for all or most of their assignments. That small group marks a real shift. Larger shares use it for some, 21 percent, or a little, 23 percent, of their work. Nearly half, 45 percent, haven’t used it for school at all. AI is common but far from universal.

Teens mostly reach for AI on specific tasks. Roughly four in ten use it to research topics or solve math problems. A third have used it to edit something they wrote. They treat these tools like smart tutors, not ghostwriters.

And the tools deliver. About a quarter of all teens say chatbots have been extremely or very helpful for schoolwork. Another quarter say somewhat helpful. Only 3 percent found them useless. That positive experience keeps adoption climbing as schools scramble for policies.

Students know the ethical lines blur. Most teens, 59 percent, say AI cheating happens at least somewhat often at their school. A third say it happens extremely or very often. Just 14 percent say it rarely or never occurs.

The heavy users see it most. Among teens who use AI for school, three-quarters say cheating is a regular thing. That perception matters. If kids think everyone’s doing it, they feel pressure to keep up. And with 15 percent unsure what counts as cheating, schools have room to clarify the rules.

AI is no longer a fringe tool. Sixty-four percent of teens use chatbots in some form, a number higher than parents estimate. Schools crafting policies must reckon with students who already have strong opinions about acceptable use.

For parents, the focus should shift from policing to talking. Only about one in ten teens feel highly confident using chatbots. That gap between usage and confidence opens a door. Parents can ask when AI helps and when it gets in the way of real learning. Teens seem ready for that talk. They see the cheating, 59 percent admit it happens, but they also value the help. The trick is keeping the support without losing the learning.