UNICEF: 20 million children use AI, adopting it faster than adults

A new analysis from UNICEF indicates that at least 20 million children across 10 countries are using artificial intelligence, with young people adopting the technology at a rate more than three times faster than adults. The UN children's agency found that many children turn to AI for homework assistance and, in some instances, for personal advice on matters that worry them. Specifically, over 2 million children reported using AI for advice, while an estimated 13 million use it to support their learning. UNICEF expressed concern that the rapid adoption of AI by children is outpacing regulatory efforts, leaving them particularly vulnerable. The agency noted that children have less power to avoid or challenge AI systems and their data usage, and that most AI governance frameworks do not prioritize their safety. Emerging evidence suggests unknown long-term effects on cognitive development, emotional dependency, and exposure to harm, leading UNICEF to describe the current situation as a "global experiment" for a generation. Children themselves have voiced anxieties about AI being used for scams, misinformation, and the manipulation of images into deepfakes. UNICEF is urging governments and the private sector to embed children's rights into global AI governance, advocating for increased research into AI's impact on child well-being and safety.