Young People Trust AI Over Humans for Fact-Checking, Report Finds
A new report suggests educational institutions risk becoming irrelevant as young people increasingly turn to artificial intelligence for information and explanations.
Nearly half of individuals aged 11 to 24 trust artificial intelligence more than humans to verify facts, with a significant portion believing AI has diminished the importance of traditional education, according to a recent survey. The poll of 4,000 young people revealed that 47% place their trust in AI for fact-checking, compared to 21% who prefer human sources. Among male respondents, this trust in AI for facts rose to 52%.
When it comes to understanding complex subjects, 38% of all respondents indicated they would turn to AI for explanations, while 24% favored human guidance. These findings are part of a broader report co-authored by former Wellington College head Sir Anthony Seldon and Tim Bunting of venture capital firm Balderton Capital. The report argues that educational institutions are failing to adapt to the AI era, potentially leading to a loss of perceived value.
"Education has not kept pace with how – and how much – young people are already using AI, and that gap is starting to show up as a loss of perceived value in the institution itself," the authors stated. "In the absence of a robust, human response to AI in education, young people are placing their trust in AI."
The survey, conducted by Public First for the report's authors, also found that 42% of young people believe AI has made education less important. A substantial 87% reported using an AI tool, and 37% agreed that "AI has made school too easy." Furthermore, 25% suggested AI has rendered university degrees obsolete, and 40% anticipate AI could replace most teachers within a decade.
Concerns about AI's role extend to healthcare, with 25% of respondents deeming it acceptable for AI to advise on medical treatment instead of consulting a doctor. This figure was higher among males (31%) than females (20%).
The report advocates for the Department for Education to be placed under "special measures" due to its slow response to AI's integration into schools. It recommends the government establish a taskforce to guide schools in safely adopting AI, aiming to prevent issues like students using AI to complete assignments.
The authors warned that a failure to adapt could exacerbate the current attendance crisis, as students may question the relevance of attending school if AI can provide information and instruction more efficiently. School absence rates in England are currently above pre-pandemic levels, with nearly one in five pupils missing at least 10% of school in the 2025-26 academic year.
"If education continues to treat adaptation as optional, it will not merely fall behind," the report stated. "It will begin to lose authority and legitimacy. And if the state loses legitimacy, then parents and students will start to question the requirements of the system."
Sir Anthony Seldon commented on the findings, noting that "education has always been Britain's Cinderella sector when it comes to technology, and with AI we are repeating the mistake at even greater speed and scale." He added, "Nearly nine in ten young people are already using AI, quietly and largely alone. Schools, colleges and universities' uncertainty about how to respond hasn't been helped remotely by a vacuum in leadership from Government."