New survey data reveals that nearly one in five high school students say they or someone they know has had a romantic relationship with artificial intelligence. And 42% of students surveyed say they or someone they know has used AI for companionship.
That’s according to a new study from the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), a nonprofit organization that advocates for civil rights, civil liberties, and the responsible use of data and technology.
CDT conducted national surveys of approximately 800 public school teachers in grades six through 12, 1,000 students in grades nine through 12, and 1,000 parents. The vast majority – 86% of students, 85% of teachers and 75% of parents – report using AI in the last school year.
CDT’s Elizabeth Laird, one of the report’s authors, says the surveys showed strong correlations.
Among them: “The more a student reports that their school uses AI, the more likely they are to report things like ‘I know someone who considers AI a friend,’ ‘I know someone who considers AI a romantic partner.'”
Data breaches, deepfakes and damaged trust
Laird says surveys have found that higher levels of AI use in schools — defined as seven to 10 school-related uses for teachers and four to six for students — correlate with increased exposure to data breaches, troubling interactions between students and AI, and AI-generated deepfakes, or manipulated videos or photos that can be used to sexually harass and intimidate students.
“This technology is a new vector for sexual harassment and bullying, which were long-standing problems (before the widespread use of AI),” says Laird, “and it has become a new way to exacerbate this phenomenon.”
According to the report, 28% of teachers who use AI for many school tasks say their school experienced a large-scale data breach, compared to 18% of teachers who do not use AI or use it for only a few tasks.
Laird, who previously worked as chief data privacy officer for the state education agency in D.C., says she thinks the more data schools share with AI systems, the more likely they are to have a data breach.
“AI systems consume a lot of data, but they also spit out a lot of information,” she says. “It contributes to that connection.”
Teachers with higher levels of school AI use were also more likely to report that an AI system they used in the classroom did not work as expected.
These teachers were also more likely to report that the use of AI had damaged community trust in schools. For example, Laird says schools frequently use AI-based software to monitor activity on school-issued devices, in some cases leading to false alarms and even student arrests. She says this is especially concerning for students who can’t afford their own personal computer.
“So if you have a personal device and aren’t required to use a school-issued device, you can basically afford to keep your documents and messages private,” says Laird.
Risks to student well-being
Students who attend schools that use AI heavily were also more likely to report that they or a friend had used AI to support their mental health, as a companion, as a way to escape reality, and to have a romantic relationship.
When students report having conversations with AI systems for personal reasons and not for school work, 31% report using a device or software provided by their school.
“I think students should know that they’re not actually talking to a person. They’re talking to a tool, and those tools have known limitations,” Laird says. “Our research suggests that the AI knowledge and training students receive is very basic.”
Laird says students and teachers often don’t receive training or guidance to help them navigate the more complex challenges associated with technology.
For example, only 11% of teachers surveyed said they had received training on how to respond if they suspect a student’s use of AI is detrimental to their well-being.
Teachers who use AI frequently are more likely to report that the technology improves their teaching, saves them time, and provides individualized learning for students – but students in schools where AI use is widespread reported higher levels of worry about the technology, particularly because it makes them feel less connected to their teachers.
“What students tell us is that while it can be helpful, it also has negative consequences,” Laird says. “And if we want to realize the benefits of AI, you know, we really need to pay attention to what students are telling us.”
