Nominet has published a new report examining the use of AI by children and young people in the UK. The report looks at how safe young people feel using AI and changes needed to ensure young people use it safely and responsibly. The report draws on survey data with 2,000 parents and 2,000 children aged 8- to 17-years-old, as well as focus groups with schoolchildren.
Findings show:

• Nearly all young people aged 8 to 17 (97%) are now using artificial intelligence (AI) tools with (58%) saying that AI makes their lives better, but 60% are concerned about someone using AI to make inappropriate pictures of them.
• When it comes to their studies, 73% of young people find AI useful and 54% said they use it to help with homework or studying. However, half (50%) of children say they’ve seen others their age using AI to do their school or homework for them.
• 75% of 8- to 17-year-olds think the government should make more rules so that AI companies keep children safe.

41% teens feel like people their age are relying heavily on AI for emotional support or help with emotional issues, while most one in seven (14%) say they use AI tools to discuss things they don’t feel they can talk to anyone else about.