A survey conducted in spring 2025 by the Slovenian Safer Internet Centre at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ljubljana showed that generative artificial intelligence tools are already used by most pupils in the third triad of primary school (aged 12-15), and by most secondary school students. They are most often used for schoolwork, and to research topics that interest them.
Popularity of generative AI tools: ChatGPT and MyAI dominate
88 per cent of primary school pupils aged 12 to 15, and 92 per cent of secondary school students aged 15 to 19 who responded to the survey have used AI tools. They most commonly use ChatGPT, which is used by the majority, and MyAI, which is used by around half of the respondents.
Frequency of use: a daily routine for many
Secondary school students are more intensive users of generative AI. Of those who use it, almost half access it a few times a week or daily, compared to a third of primary school pupils.
Of these frequent users, 68 per cent of primary school pupils and 88 per cent of secondary school students estimate that they use the tools for less than half an hour a day. However, there are three times as many primary school pupils who use generative tools for more than an hour a day – 16 per cent compared to 5 per cent of secondary school students.
Purpose of use: school, curiosity, fun
Most users use AI tools to help with schoolwork: 75 per cent of primary school pupils in the third triad, and 89 per cent of secondary school students.
Almost twice as many primary school pupils as secondary school students use AI tools for fun (27 per cent of primary school pupils and 15 per cent of secondary school students) and to relieve boredom (18 per cent of primary school pupils and 10 per cent of secondary school students). As primary school pupils use these tools more frequently for these purposes, they also use them more often per day than secondary school students.
Abuse and illicit use: lack of knowledge of restrictions
Only a fifth of teenagers are aware that the use of generative AI tools is not permitted under the age of 13, and that they must obtain parental permission to use them under the age of 18.
Already 16 per cent of primary school teens and 15 per cent of secondary school teens surveyed have been victims of AI-powered cyberbullying. The most common forms of cyberbullying were creating fake images of the victim and creating a fake profile (identity theft). A further 3 per cent reported being victims of fake child sexual abuse images (nude images).
Among users of generative AI, 8 per cent of primary school teenagers and 5 per cent of secondary school teenagers have already used it to harm others.
Use of artificial intelligence: young people think they know how to use it, but they are concerned about privacy
62 per cent of primary school users of generative AI and 64 per cent of secondary school users believe they can communicate with AI to get accurate answers. As for the results, they are often very uncritical. A large proportion of primary school pupils (39 per cent) believe that AI has always delivered useful results for them. Among secondary school users, the figure is even higher, at 52 per cent.
Primary school users (52 per cent) are most concerned about protecting their privacy or the data they input into generative AI tools. Primary school pupils are also concerned that people will rely too much on artificial intelligence (48 per cent). In third place, is the fear that AI will dominate people and the world (44 per cent).
In secondary schools, things are a little different. In first place is the concern that people will rely too much on AI (53 per cent), followed by the concern that AI will replace people in various professions (49 per cent) and only then the concern about the protection of privacy and the data they enter into these tools (46 per cent). 40 per cent of the secondary school students surveyed fear that AI will dominate the world and people.
Both are at least concerned about the possibility of artificial intelligence being used to cheat at school - a third of primary school pupils and a quarter of secondary school students cite this as a cause for concern.
About the survey
The anonymous online survey was conducted by the Safe.si awareness centre at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, as part of the Safer Internet Day 2025 activities. It focused on teenagers' use, experiences, and attitudes towards generative AI. The survey ran from February to April 2025 and included responses from 594 pupils aged 12 to 15 (third triad of primary school) and 632 secondary school students aged 15 to 19.
Find more information about the work of the Slovenian Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.
A survey conducted in spring 2025 by the Slovenian Safer Internet Centre at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ljubljana showed that generative artificial intelligence tools are already used by most pupils in the third triad of primary school (aged 12-15), and by most secondary school students. They are most often used for schoolwork, and to research topics that interest them.
Popularity of generative AI tools: ChatGPT and MyAI dominate
88 per cent of primary school pupils aged 12 to 15, and 92 per cent of secondary school students aged 15 to 19 who responded to the survey have used AI tools. They most commonly use ChatGPT, which is used by the majority, and MyAI, which is used by around half of the respondents.
Frequency of use: a daily routine for many
Secondary school students are more intensive users of generative AI. Of those who use it, almost half access it a few times a week or daily, compared to a third of primary school pupils.
Of these frequent users, 68 per cent of primary school pupils and 88 per cent of secondary school students estimate that they use the tools for less than half an hour a day. However, there are three times as many primary school pupils who use generative tools for more than an hour a day – 16 per cent compared to 5 per cent of secondary school students.
Purpose of use: school, curiosity, fun
Most users use AI tools to help with schoolwork: 75 per cent of primary school pupils in the third triad, and 89 per cent of secondary school students.
Almost twice as many primary school pupils as secondary school students use AI tools for fun (27 per cent of primary school pupils and 15 per cent of secondary school students) and to relieve boredom (18 per cent of primary school pupils and 10 per cent of secondary school students). As primary school pupils use these tools more frequently for these purposes, they also use them more often per day than secondary school students.
Abuse and illicit use: lack of knowledge of restrictions
Only a fifth of teenagers are aware that the use of generative AI tools is not permitted under the age of 13, and that they must obtain parental permission to use them under the age of 18.
Already 16 per cent of primary school teens and 15 per cent of secondary school teens surveyed have been victims of AI-powered cyberbullying. The most common forms of cyberbullying were creating fake images of the victim and creating a fake profile (identity theft). A further 3 per cent reported being victims of fake child sexual abuse images (nude images).
Among users of generative AI, 8 per cent of primary school teenagers and 5 per cent of secondary school teenagers have already used it to harm others.
Use of artificial intelligence: young people think they know how to use it, but they are concerned about privacy
62 per cent of primary school users of generative AI and 64 per cent of secondary school users believe they can communicate with AI to get accurate answers. As for the results, they are often very uncritical. A large proportion of primary school pupils (39 per cent) believe that AI has always delivered useful results for them. Among secondary school users, the figure is even higher, at 52 per cent.
Primary school users (52 per cent) are most concerned about protecting their privacy or the data they input into generative AI tools. Primary school pupils are also concerned that people will rely too much on artificial intelligence (48 per cent). In third place, is the fear that AI will dominate people and the world (44 per cent).
In secondary schools, things are a little different. In first place is the concern that people will rely too much on AI (53 per cent), followed by the concern that AI will replace people in various professions (49 per cent) and only then the concern about the protection of privacy and the data they enter into these tools (46 per cent). 40 per cent of the secondary school students surveyed fear that AI will dominate the world and people.
Both are at least concerned about the possibility of artificial intelligence being used to cheat at school - a third of primary school pupils and a quarter of secondary school students cite this as a cause for concern.
About the survey
The anonymous online survey was conducted by the Safe.si awareness centre at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, as part of the Safer Internet Day 2025 activities. It focused on teenagers' use, experiences, and attitudes towards generative AI. The survey ran from February to April 2025 and included responses from 594 pupils aged 12 to 15 (third triad of primary school) and 632 secondary school students aged 15 to 19.
Find more information about the work of the Slovenian Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.
- artificial intelligence (AI) school
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