AI Chatbots: Everyday Companions for Young People

The results of the new youth study by Saferinternet.at show that AI chatbots are becoming important companions, but the risks and knowledge gaps regarding how they work are underestimated.

ChatGPT is clearly number one among young people

Artificial intelligence has arrived in the everyday life of young people: 94 percent of 11 to 17 year olds use AI chatbots. ChatGPT is by far the most popular application and is used by 90 percent of those surveyed. Comparable chatbots such as Gemini from Google (23%) or CoPilot from Microsoft (11%) are significantly less popular. Almost a quarter (24%) of respondents use ChatGPT daily, older respondents (30%) more than younger respondents (18%). Over 40 percent say they use ChatGPT at least several times a week.

School is the most important area of application for AI

Young people see AI primarily as an important tool for school: Almost three quarters (73%) use AI tools for school purposes and homework. Furthermore, AI tools are used, among other things, for searching and summarizing information (47%), for explanations (34%), for formulating texts (27%) and for solving arithmetic problems (20%).

There are clear differences between the genders and age groups (11 to 14 years and 15 to 17 years): Female and older teenagers use AI more frequently in all application areas. In school, female young people (78%) are 10 percentage points ahead of males (68%).

Young people regularly ask AI for information and advice

AI tools are now in demand not only at school, but throughout everyday life. More than half of young people (55%) use AI frequently or occasionally, to get information and advice for various areas of life, for example leisure activities, hobbies, health or relationships. Almost a third (31%) use AI tools to discuss concerns or problems. A quarter (26%) use them to reduce stress or get rid of anger.

Four out of ten respondents (40%) often find it more helpful to ask an AI than a human. Availability, meaning that AI chatbots respond always and at any time, is the most important reason (59%) for young people to use them. They also value the time savings (43%) and the ease of use (39%).

Chatbots take on similar tasks to caregivers

What is striking is the increasing importance of AI in the emotional and interpersonal areas. Almost a quarter (24%) of respondents use AI at least sometimes to have friendly conversations, almost a fifth (19%) even for romantic conversations. Around three out of ten respondents are of the opinion that AI can be a kind of friend (29%) and can provide comfort (28%). Over a quarter (26%) believe that teenagers could actually fall in love with a chatbot. This shows how attractive chatbots are for young people and what importance they have in young people’s everyday lives. The confirming and pleasant manner of communication of AI chatbots plays an important role here. As a result, chatbots often appear empathetic and convey apparent understanding.

A quarter of young people (25%) now say that they find it easier to talk to chatbots about personal topics than to people. At the same time, they are well aware of the possible dark sides of AI. “If you turn to the AI with problems from a young age, you might find it more difficult to communicate with a real adult,” said one focus group participant.

But AI tools can also help to prepare and practice conversations with other people. 23 percent of those surveyed already use it at least sometimes. In the focus groups, the young people describe that they use AI to primarily prepare sensitive or conflict-laden conversations – for example, to talk to teachers about assessments that are perceived as unfair, to talk to parents about bad grades or to talk to friends or in relationships about conflicts.

AI cannot replace human assistance and professional advice

The majority of young people (57%) believe that chatbots often give good advice. Nevertheless, it has already happened almost one in five people surveyed (18%) felt uncomfortable due to an AI answer, Male young people (23%) notice this significantly more often than females (13%). The focus groups show that unpleasant experiences arise because advice on how to deal with people is perceived as manipulative or answers tend to reinforce negative feelings rather than relieve them.

Young people underestimate risks

Young people’s trust in AI is high: More than half (52%) rely on ChatGPT & Co to provide correct information. Four out of ten respondents (40%) rarely or never check whether the results are actually correct.

The majority of young people (56%) are concerned that AI tools could potentially weaken the ability to think about things independently. “You kind of get lazy when you can ask everything,” said one young person in the focus groups.

It is also worrying that 28 percent of those surveyed believe that their input into AI chatbots is confidential and could not be viewed or used by anyone. Nearly half (48%) expect other teens to share personal data with AI systems. More than a quarter (28%) even trust AI chatbots with intimate content.

Positive attitude towards AI predominates

Overall, young people have a predominantly positive or neutral attitude towards artificial intelligence – both in terms of society and personal benefit. More than half (55%) see AI primarily as an opportunity for themselves (as a danger: 7%, partly, partly: 31%). They therefore rate AI more positively for themselves than for society as a whole (as an opportunity: 42%, as a threat: 15%, partly, partly: 35%).

Clear demand for more education in dealing with AI

Young people want more guidance in dealing with artificial intelligence – the survey shows this clearly: More than half of respondents (53%) would like to better understand how AI actually works. In fact, almost half of young people (48%) have never had the functionality of AI systems explained to them in an age-appropriate manner.

The young people also take a clear position on the topic of age limits: More than half (53%) are in favor of age restrictions when using AI chatbots. Most young people (39%) think an age limit of 14 years makes sense.

When it comes to learning skills in dealing with AI, young people see the education system as being primarily responsible. Two thirds (66%) expect support from the school, a third (33%) from their parents. The results make it clear: young people not only want rules, but above all well-founded education in order to be able to use AI safely and responsibly.

About the study

The study “AI chatbots as everyday companions for young people” was carried out by the Institute for Youth Culture Research and Cultural Mediation on behalf of the Austrian Institute for Applied Telecommunications (ÖIAT) and ISPA – Internet Service Providers Austria as part of the EU initiative Saferinternet.at. During the survey period (October/November 2025), 500 young people between the ages of 11 and 17, representative of age, gender and educational background, took part. In addition, two focus groups were carried out in youth facilities with a total of 14 young people between the ages of 12 and 15.