Central OC Times

The University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) has led a comprehensive national study on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, particularly focusing on its impact on young people. The study, conducted with support from the National Science Foundation and in collaboration with foundry10, involved a mixed-methods investigation into the perceptions and experiences of parents, teachers, and adolescents regarding generative and traditional forms of AI.

Candice Odgers, a UC Irvine professor who spearheaded the research alongside Gillian Hayes and Jennifer Rubin from foundry10, noted the urgency to understand AI's influence on youth. "Digital technologies have been moving fast," she said. "Fortunately, our team was able to rapidly mobilize to directly ask adolescents, parents and teachers how they’re faring in this new age of AI."

The initial phase of the study took place between November 2023 and May 2024, surveying 1,510 adolescents aged 9 to 17 and 2,826 parents across the United States. Further data collection occurred from June to September 2024 through focus group discussions involving parents, teachers, and adolescents.

Findings indicate that while nearly half of the adolescents reported using AI platforms like ChatGPT recently, only a small percentage used more specialized AI tools such as virtual friends or mental health chatbots. Daily use of generative AI among adolescents was low at just 7 percent. Additionally, most adolescent users did not report negative social or academic impacts; instead, 69 percent found that generative AI aided their learning.

Kelli Dickerson from UC Irvine highlighted differences in how various groups engage with AI: “Parents, teachers and teens differed in their reported use of and response to generative AI... Not surprisingly, adolescents appear to be earlier and more eager adopters.”

Interestingly, Hayes remarked on the unexpected parity in AI adoption across income levels among teens: “We were shocked to see that... teens from lower- versus higher-income families did not vary substantially in their adoption or uses of generative AI.”

The research underscores the need for ongoing monitoring of young people's interactions with AI technologies to ensure equitable access and benefits.

This investigation was conducted alongside partners including CERES network and NORC at the University of Chicago. It received financial backing from NSF award 2334172 as well as a gift from Microsoft.

UC Irvine continues its efforts under its Brilliant Future campaign launched in October 2019 aiming for significant philanthropic investment towards enhancing student success among other goals.