TechTank Podcast Summary
Episode Title: Teens are using AI—but not how we think
Host: Dr. Nicol Turner Lee (Brookings Institution)
Guest: Monica Anderson (Director, Internet & Technology Research, Pew Research Center)
Date: April 6, 2026

Overview

In this episode of TechTank, Dr. Nicol Turner Lee welcomes Monica Anderson to discuss how American teenagers are actually using artificial intelligence (AI), exploring the findings of a new Pew Research Center survey. Countering prevailing narratives about AI misuse or dependency among teens, the conversation provides a nuanced, data-driven look at diverse patterns of AI adoption, teens' attitudes, racial and class differences, parental perspectives, and implications for policy and education.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Purpose of the Pew Study and Its Urgency (02:09-03:50)

• Emerging Technologies & Teens: Pew's focus is to provide scientific, representative data about technological adoption, especially since teens are often early adopters of emerging tech.

• Grounding Policy in Data: Anderson emphasizes the need for "grounding conversations in data" to move beyond headlines and anecdotes.

  Quote:
  "It's very important to learn about people's experiences, to bring in anecdotes. But we also see... a lot of value in doing these scientific representative surveys for us to get a better understanding of what this means for all teens in the US." — Monica Anderson (03:16)

2. Surprising & Notable Findings (03:50-06:09)

• Diverse Use Cases: Most teens use AI chatbots for information search, with over half using it for schoolwork. 20% use them for news, 16% for casual conversation, and about 1 in 10 for emotional support or advice.

• Not a Monolith: Significant differences by race and ethnicity; Black and Hispanic teens are more active in using chatbots for emotional support and schoolwork.

  Quote:
  "Not all teens are using it or using it in the same way, but there are some really interesting differences and patterns when you start to drill down into race and ethnicity." — Monica Anderson (04:17)

3. Teen Confidence and Literacy with AI (06:09-07:20)

• Growing Confidence: Teens are notably familiar with AI (95% have heard of it; nearly 60% have heard "a lot"). About a quarter describe themselves as "extremely" or "very" confident with chatbots; another third are somewhat confident.
• Compared to Adults: Teens’ AI literacy and confidence outpace older Americans.

4. Teens’ Attitudes Toward AI's Societal Impact (07:20-10:51)

• Generally Positive Outlook: On a personal level, 36% of teens believe AI will have a positive impact on their lives (15% negative).

• Mixed Societal Outlook: For society, only 31% think the impact will be positive, with 26% foreseeing negative outcomes (e.g., misinformation, loss of "human factors," environmental impact).

• Astute Critique: Teens are as likely as adults to voice concerns about AI’s impact on jobs, critical thinking, and the proliferation of misinformation.

  Quote:
  "We need to make sure that we're giving young people credit when it comes to their views and experiences with technology—who can better tell us what they think AI is going to impact young people than young people themselves?" — Monica Anderson (08:35)

5. Patterns of AI Chatbot Use (12:30-15:07)

• Frequency & Context: Nearly 20% of teens use chatbots for casual conversation, about 1 in 10 for emotional support/advice.

• Parental Perspectives: Parents are least comfortable with chatbots for these personal functions, more accepting of chatbots for schoolwork or information search.

• Demographic Patterns: 20% of Black teens use chatbots for emotional support (vs. 10% of White/Hispanic teens). Persistent and consistent racial/ethnic patterns align with prior Pew findings about internet and social media use.

  Quote:
  "Teens are using these chatbots for a lot of things, but it's not a one size fits all. And in our work, we're seeing some really consistent patterns by race and ethnicity." — Monica Anderson (14:37)

6. Demographic & Economic Differences (15:07-22:15)

• Race/Ethnicity: Black and Hispanic teens are more likely to use chatbots for schoolwork and emotional support.
• Gender: Boys tend to be more positive about AI than girls.
• Income: Teens from households earning less than $30,000/year are more likely to view AI as helpful (20% vs. 7% in >$75,000 households). Higher income parents and teens may have more alternatives or resources and different attitudes toward AI use.
• Parental Conversations: Higher-income parents are more likely to discuss AI/chatbots with their children but are less supportive of chatbots for emotional support; lower-income parents are more comfortable with this usage.

7. Implications for Education, Policy, and the Digital Divide (23:28-27:41)

• Educational Impact: Over half of teens use AI for schoolwork. Black and Hispanic teens especially report chatbots as helpful in education, not primarily as a tool for cheating.

• Policy Lag: As teens integrate AI rapidly, educators and parents are "playing catch-up" with fast-evolving tools.

• Future Outlook: Teen adoption leads technology trends and their perspectives (positive, negative, uncertain) offer valuable guidance for policymakers and educators.

  Quote:
  "The cat is out of the bag... we're creating policies that may be about banning or not including [AI], but really, teens are picking up the tricks of the trade." — Nicol Turner Lee (24:53)

8. Comparison With Adults’ Perceptions (25:53-27:41)

• Higher Adoption, More Positivity: Teens use AI more than older Americans and tend to view it more positively.

• Uncertainty Persists: A substantial share of both teens and parents express uncertainty about AI’s long-term impact.

  Quote:
  "People might be a little bit more positive here, a little bit more negative there, but in a lot of ways, people are still trying to make up their mind about what they think these impacts are." — Monica Anderson (27:25)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Not all teens are using it or using it in the same way..." — Monica Anderson (04:17)
• "We need to make sure that we're giving young people credit when it comes to their views and experiences with technology..." — Monica Anderson (08:35)
• "The cat is out of the bag... we're creating policies that may be about banning [AI], but really, teens are picking up the tricks of the trade." — Nicol Turner Lee (24:53)
• "Teens are using these chatbots for a lot of things, but it's not a one size fits all." — Monica Anderson (14:37)
• "About 20% of teens said that they weren't sure" about AI’s long-term impact—uncertainty is a valid and prevalent sentiment. (26:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Purpose of Study: 02:09
• Surprises & Findings: 03:50
• Teen Literacy & Confidence: 06:09
• Teens' Societal Attitudes: 07:20
• Chatbot Use Cases: 12:30
• Demographic Differences: 15:07
• Income & Parental Attitudes: 18:16–22:15
• Educational Policy Implications: 23:28
• Comparison to Adults: 25:53

Conclusion & Resources

Monica Anderson underscores the value of continued, annual research to observe evolving trends as AI’s role in teen life expands. Nicol Turner Lee calls for policymakers and educators to pay closer attention to teens’ lived experiences and nuanced attitudes before crafting restrictive policies.

Resources:

• Pew Research Center Reports: pewresearch.org
• TechTank newsletter: Brookings TechTank

Final Thought:
AI's impact on teens is not monolithic. Demographic and socioeconomic factors deeply shape how these tools are perceived and used. As both adoption and uncertainty grow, policymakers and educators must match the pace of change with data-informed responses that truly consider teens’ voices.