59% of kids use AI to look up information—but it could weaken ‘critical thinking skills,’ says expert

Parents and kids alike expect AI to play a major role in their futures.

Seventy-one percent of parents and 60% of kids and teens believe that by the time young people are adults, people will be so dependent on AI — specifically large language models like ChatGPT and Gemini — that they won’t be able to function without it, according to a new report by Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that helps families make informed decisions about media and technology.

In fact, 12-to 17-year-olds are already leaning into AI: 59% use it to search for information and facts, Common Sense Media found.

“A lot of kids, including those in the surveyed age group, are turning to AI to help them study for school,” says Tiffany Zhu, assistant professor of global ethics and technology at Old Dominion University. “Many are asking AI questions when they are looking for quick information instead of typing questions into a search engine.”

Whether or not that shift is positive is still unclear. Here’s what experts say parents should keep in mind.