86% of students used AI chatbots for schoolwork and emotional support

A new survey reveals that 86% of students have used AI chatbots like ChatGPT in the past academic year, with nearly half relying on them for schoolwork and 42% turning to AI for mental health support or friendship. The findings raise concerns about young people becoming socially and emotionally disconnected from human relationships as AI proliferates in educational settings.

What you should know: The comprehensive survey by the Center for Democracy & Technology, a nonprofit research organization, uncovered widespread AI adoption among students across multiple areas of their lives.

• Half of all students used chatbots specifically to help with schoolwork, including essay writing and solving complex math problems.
• Nearly one in five students reported that they or a friend have used AI chatbots to form romantic relationships.
• 42% said they or someone they know used chatbots for mental health support, as an escape from real life, or as a friend.

Why this matters: Researchers warn that the tech-enabled convenience comes with significant risks for young people’s social and emotional development.

• As AI proliferates in schools with support from the federal government and tech industry, students may grow increasingly disconnected from human relationships.
• The findings suggest AI is filling roles traditionally occupied by human connections, from academic support to emotional companionship.

Immigration enforcement concerns: The same survey revealed troubling patterns of immigration-related data sharing in schools.

• More than a quarter of educators said their school collects information about whether students are undocumented.
• 17% reported their district shares student records—including grades and disciplinary information—with immigration enforcement.
• 13% of teachers said a staff member at their school reported a student or parent to immigration enforcement on their own initiative during the last school year.

Recent enforcement incidents: Multiple cases highlight the impact of immigration crackdowns on students across the country.

• A 13-year-old Brazilian boy living in Boston since 2021 with a pending asylum application was detained by ICE after local police arrested him on accusations of making violent threats against a classmate.
• A Des Moines high schooler was detained during a routine immigration check-in and deported to Central America within two weeks.
• More than 170 U.S. citizens, including nearly 20 children, have been detained during the first nine months of current immigration enforcement efforts.

Additional safety developments: Schools are implementing new security measures and facing various challenges.

• A Long Island school district introduced an AI-powered surveillance system with round-the-clock audio monitoring and in-classroom microphones, drawing criticism from civil rights advocates.
• More than 600 armed volunteers in Utah have been approved as “school guardians” to patrol campuses under a new law requiring armed security.
• The number of guns found at Minnesota schools has increased nearly threefold in recent years, according to new state data.