Young People Trust AI More Than Humans for Fact-Checking, Report Finds

Nearly half of young people aged 11 to 24 trust artificial intelligence more than humans to verify facts, with a significant portion believing AI has made education less important, according to a report co-authored by former Wellington College head Sir Anthony Seldon and Tim Bunting of venture capital firm Balderton Capital.

The survey of 4,000 individuals found that 47 percent of young people trust AI the most for fact-checking, compared to 21 percent who trust humans. Among male respondents, this figure rose to 52 percent.

When it comes to understanding complex subjects, 38 percent of all respondents indicated they would turn to AI, while 24 percent preferred human explanations. The report warns that educational institutions are at risk of becoming irrelevant if they do not adapt to the pervasive use of AI among young people.

"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. "That is a very dangerous place to find ourselves in. In the absence of a robust, human response to AI in education, young people are placing their trust in AI."

The poll, conducted by Public First, also revealed that 42 percent of young people believe AI has diminished the importance of education. Eighty-seven percent reported using an AI tool, and 37 percent agreed that "AI has made school too easy." Additionally, 25 percent felt AI has rendered university degrees useless, and 40 percent predicted AI could replace most teachers within a decade.

The report advocates for the Department for Education (DfE) to implement special measures due to its perceived slowness in preparing schools for AI. It suggests the government should establish a taskforce to guide schools in safely integrating AI and preventing academic dishonesty.

Concerns are also raised about the escalating attendance crisis in schools. The report posits that if educational systems fail to adapt, students may question the relevance of attending school when AI tools can provide information and instruction more quickly and reliably. The authors noted that a school system that undervalues AI at scale risks losing the trust and engagement of families and students.

"Despite warnings, 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," Sir Anthony said. "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."

The report also touched upon the potential for AI in healthcare, with 25 percent of young people finding it acceptable for AI to advise on medical treatments instead of consulting a doctor. This figure was higher among males (31 percent) than females (20 percent).