Report published: 22 September 2026
Scope: England
Reviewed: 28 September 2026
New Public First polling suggests that young people’s use of AI is running ahead of the guidance they receive.
The nationally representative survey covered 4,021 people aged 11–24 in England between 18 and 27 August. Eighty-seven per cent said they had used an AI tool. When asked whom they trusted to check a fact, 47% selected AI and 21% selected a person. Only 30% said their school had clear AI rules they could explain, while two-thirds thought schools and universities should teach responsible use.
These are self-reported attitudes, not tests of factual accuracy, critical thinking or learning. The sample also spans school pupils, students and young adults, and the polling was commissioned for an advocacy report proposing major AI reforms.
For educators, the findings nevertheless indicate a practical literacy challenge: frequent use may coexist with high trust and unclear boundaries. Explicit discussion of verification, uncertainty, appropriate use and when human expertise matters may therefore be as important as teaching how to operate AI tools.
Primary sources: Public First summary and polling information and full report.