Here's how AI is used in schools, according to Gen Z
Artificial intelligence is no longer something of the future; it’s already here and in our day-to-day lives. And now Gen Z isn’t just going to be the first internet-native generation, but also an AI native generation. As many are coming of age with all the answers in their pocket, figuring out how to use AI, but still learn is becoming a big question for students.
For some, it’s become an essential study tool, for others, they outright reject it, and for a section of students today, it’s a tool doing all their work.
No matter how Gen Z and AI are interacting, it’s clear that it’s shaping how school work is done…and honestly, what it means to do that work at all.
How Gen Z Is Using AI
For a large section of Gen Z, AI has become a constant part of their academic life. According to a survey for our Youthtellers (ages 15-27), 32% use AI for homework regularly, 23% say they use it from time to time, and for a small percentage, it’s only used in last-minute worst-case scenarios.
And while these numbers seem small, they may not be telling the whole story. Because when asked how often AI is used to study, nearly half said it’s their main study tool, doing everything for them from brainstorming ideas, to editing drafts, and outlining assignments, to even generating code.
In other words, Gen Z doesn’t view using AI to learn like they’re using AI at all. To them, it’s become a sort of student helper that advises them on structure, how to study, and why they are having so much trouble solving for X in an equation.
Why Many Gen Z Students Are Still Cautious
Despite many students using it, even outside of academics, AI in schools is not universally embraced. Many schools have banned it, some professors spend a lecture discussing its harmful effects, and when it comes to students, a significant number tell us they avoid it altogether. These students understood it could help them, but 66% still viewed it as cheating, and another 59% didn’t trust it to be accurate.
60% explained that they wanted to learn without the shortcuts. And all this fear makes sense. While many had professors lecture on the harmful effects of AI, another 7% told us that AI use was encouraged, and 30% said it was never even mentioned.
All this inconsistency means many students are left to make a judgment call. For Gen Z and AI, assignments are now coming to them with the unspoken question: Is it okay to use ChatGPT here, or will I get in trouble for it?
Is Avoiding AI a Disadvantage?
As some students steer clear of AI completely, they told us they were worried about it hurting them academically. However, when we asked other students whether they think other non-AI users are falling behind, most said no. In fact, 34% said they believed that those who weren’t using AI would be better in the long run, and 27% said they believed it would balance out.
This is the divide with Gen Z and AI. While some view it as a necessary tool for modern education, others are worried about relying on it too much, and that it ends up weakening their intellect over time.
Those who explained it as a tool viewed it the same way as they viewed a graphing calculator; something to take them to the end result faster. But one 19 Y/O Youthteller based in California said, “I wouldn’t trust someone who earned their degree by using AI at all.” And those two thoughts alone highlight the divide in viewpoints when it comes to how this generation interacts with AI.
Gen Z and AI: The Balance
The one thing that clearly stood out in all these results? That AI use isn’t black and white at all. And for Gen Z, a generation growing up as this technology reaches their fingertips, they often sit in the gray area.
This is something that a majority of the students actually recognize about their use of AI, with 56% saying that balance is key. Only 9% are fully onboard with AI, and 23% believe they shouldn’t be using it. But for the majority, it’s all about using it smartly and still managing to learn.
The emotions around AI use are complex, with many fearing what it would be like if it were to be completely normalized in schools. The main concern is less creativity, a lack of original work, and that you become dependent on AI to think. But aside from that, many see the benefits of AI in school and how it could make their lives more efficient, personalize learning styles, and even help students who don’t have access to tutoring or more support.
Gen Z and AI In The Future
The relationship between Gen Z and AI is still developing–much like the technology itself. But what is clear is that Gen Z won’t be blindly using a tool if it could harm them. While this generation is technologically savvy, they also clearly care about using these tools with intention.
As AI becomes more integrated into everyday life and school, its clear the schools will need to set rules to help students discern if it’s good to use or if it will be harmful, because learning isn’t the same as it was ten years ago and its not just the tech that’s changing but also the mindset in how tech is used.
Gen Z and AI aren’t simply coexisting, but working together when it comes to learning, and the sooner the rest of the world acknowledges this shift in behavior, the better.