2.6 AI: Use and Attitudes Among Young People

To critically assess media content, to evaluate quality and credibility includes relating to AI. Different AI services or tools can also be used to produce own content as well as for creative expressions. With AI still being a relatively new aspect of media literacy, the statements in the questionnaire are very general and focus on possible influence on the media and information environment.

On average, four of ten young people in the Nordic countries have used an AI service in the past three months (between 37 to 44 percent). The result is very similar in all four participating countries with a slightly higher share in Norway and Iceland.

Figure 2.6.1. Use of AI services among 9- to 15-year-olds, by country (percent)

The share who has used an AI service in the past three months is significantly higher among 13- to 15-year-olds compared to 9- to 12-year-olds.

Figure 2.6.2. Use of AI service among 9- to 15-year-olds, by age (percent)

The most common use of AI services among the youth is to find information (58 percent), followed by assistance in writing assignments (43 percent). The uses for AI services are similar across the Nordic countries. However, Icelandic respondents are far more likely to have used AI to test how it works and to make pictures.

Figure 2.6.3. Areas of use of AI services among 9–15-year-olds, by country (percent)

Thirteens- to 15-years-old tend to have used AI mainly with the purpose of finding information or receiving help writing an assignment. The 9- to 12-year-olds used it to make pictures to a larger extent than the 13- to 15-year-olds. A quarter of the respondents (25 percent) in both age groups used it to test how AI works.

Figure 2.6.4 Areas of use of AI services among 9–15-year-olds, by age (percent)

Young people´s opinions about AI

Overall, many in the 9 to 15 age group express uncertainty in opinions about AI’s influence on democracy, media and information with a very high share of respondents selecting the reply “don’t know”. This could both indicate the lack of an actual opinion as well as that they find this topic difficult.

Among those who do have an opinion, attitudes are similar to the result in the adult survey. Young people also feel AI is developing too quickly and there is little confidence in AI services providing accurate information or being beneficial for democracy. However, the Icelandic youth are not as concerned about AI and its influence on news and information compared to young people in the three other countries.

Figure 2.6.5. Youths’ attitudes towards AI by country (percent)

Mean

Sweden: 3,4

Norway: 3,8

Denmark: 3,7

Iceland: 3,3

Mean

Sweden: 3,5

Norway: 3,7

Denmark: 3,6

Iceland: 3,2

Mean

Sweden: 3,1

Norway: 3,2

Denmark: 3,2

Iceland: 2,8

Mean

Sweden: 3,0

Norway: 3,0

Denmark: 3,0

Iceland: 2,6

Mean

Sweden: 3,8

Norway: 3,8

Denmark: 3,9

Iceland: 3,5

Mean

Sweden: 3,6

Norway: 3,6

Denmark: 3,6

Iceland: 3,0

Mean

Sweden: 3,8

Norway: 3,9

Denmark: 3,8

Iceland: 3,6

In the group of 9- to 12-year-olds there is a significantly higher share of respondents who are unable to give an opinion on the statements about AI. Of those that do have an opinion, in both groups, there are no greater differences in their attitudes towards AI (see mean for reference).

Figure 2.6.6. Youths’ attitudes towards AI by age (percent)

Mean

9–12 yrs: 3,6

13–15 yrs: 3,6

Mean

9–12 yrs: 3,5

13–15 yrs: 3,6

Mean

9–12 yrs: 3,0

13–15 yrs: 3,1

Mean

9–12 yrs: 2,9

13–15 yrs: 3,0

Mean

9–12 yrs: 3,8

13–15 yrs: 3,8

Mean

9–12 yrs: 3,5

13–15 yrs: 3,5

Mean

9–12 yrs: 3,8

13–15 yrs: 3,8

Differences in attitudes between young users and non-users of AI services

Respondents who have used an AI service within the past three months generally hold a more favorable view of AI, regarding its ability to simplify search for information and news, provide accurate and trustworthy information, and positively impact democracy. Respondents who have not recently used an AI service are more likely to respond with "don't know" to these questions.

An interesting result, however, aligning with the respondents in the adult survey, is that both users and non-users express similar views on whether AI complicates discerning genuine information from falsehoods, worries about AIs influence and concerns about the pace of development. Having experience from using an AI service does not make respondents less worried about its impact on the information environment.

Figure 2.6.7. Youths’ attitudes towards AI by users and non-users (percent)

Mean

9–12 yrs: 3,9

13–15 yrs: 3,3

Mean

9–12 yrs: 3,9

13–15 yrs: 3,1

Mean

9–12 yrs: 3,4

13–15 yrs: 2,7

Mean

9–12 yrs: 3,4

13–15 yrs: 2,5

Mean

9–12 yrs: 3,8

13–15 yrs: 3,8

Mean

9–12 yrs: 3,4

13–15 yrs: 3,6

Mean

9–12 yrs: 3,7

13–15 yrs: 3,8

Key insights

AI-adoption is substantial but heavily skewed towards the older youth. About 4 in 10 of the young people (37–44 percent) used an AI service in the past three months, similar across countries, slightly higher in Norway and Iceland. Usage is much higher among 13–15-year-olds (52 percent) than 9–12-year-olds (29 percent).
The Nordic youth primarily use AI to find information and get help with assignments. Finding information (58 percent) is most common, followed by help with assignments (43 percent). The older age group is slightly more likely to use AI like this, while 9–12-year-olds use it more to make pictures.
Attitude measurements show high degrees of uncertainty about AI. A very high share of the young respondents selects “don’t know.” Among those with opinions, the youth tend to think AI is developing too fast and show limited confidence in that AI provides accurate/trustworthy information or benefits democracy.
Users’ vs non-users diverge on positives, not on risks. Recent users view AI more favourably while non-users choose “don’t know” more on statements relating to the benefits of AI. However, both groups are similarly concerned about risks.