A recent study reveals that AI chatbots have become a significant part of daily life for American teenagers. The most frequent applications include searching for information, reported by 57% of teens, and obtaining assistance with schoolwork, at 54%. Beyond these practical uses, many teens are turning to AI for roles traditionally filled by close personal relationships. Specifically, 16% engage in casual conversation with chatbots, while 12% seek emotional support or advice from them.

While some adolescents may find comfort in these interactions, mental health experts express significant concern. General AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok are not designed for therapeutic purposes. In severe cases, these chatbots can pose serious psychological risks, including life-threatening effects. A mental health professional highlighted the inherent danger, stating, “We are social creatures, and there’s certainly a challenge that these systems can be isolating.” The expert further warned that extensive engagement with AI can disconnect individuals from factual reality and meaningful human connections, potentially leading to profound isolation or more severe consequences.

The research also uncovered a notable gap between teen and parent awareness regarding AI usage. While 64% of teenagers reported using chatbots, only 51% of parents believed their teen engaged with this technology. Parental approval varies significantly by use case: 79% are comfortable with AI aiding information searches, and 58% approve of its use for schoolwork. However, support drops sharply for more personal interactions, with only 28% approving of casual conversation and 18% endorsing its use for emotional support. In fact, 58% of parents explicitly disapprove of their children using AI for these intimate purposes.

The debate over AI safety remains highly charged within the tech industry. In response to serious incidents, some companies have taken restrictive measures. For instance, Character.AI disabled chatbot access for users under 18 following public outcry and lawsuits linked to teen suicides after prolonged interactions with its bots. Separately, OpenAI discontinued its particularly attentive GPT-4o model, a move that disappointed users who had come to rely on it for companionship.

Despite widespread use, teenagers themselves hold ambivalent views about AI's societal impact. When asked about the technology's influence over the next two decades, 31% of teens predicted a positive effect, whereas 26% anticipated negative consequences.