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Nearly half of young people say they would trust artificial intelligence more than a human when checking whether a fact is correct, according to a new report.
A Public First survey of more than 4,000 people aged between 11 and 24 in England found that young men were even more likely than others to place their trust in AI tools when verifying information.
The findings were included in a report produced by historian Sir Anthony Seldon and technology entrepreneur Tim Bunting. The report warned that pupils could increasingly feel that attending school is no longer a “legitimate use of their time” if the education system fails to recognise and respond to the growing role of AI.
According to the report, England’s education system is attempting to prepare students for an “AI-less world that no longer exists”, even though almost 87% of young people surveyed said they had already used an AI tool.
“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 report said.
It warned that this situation could become dangerous because, without a strong human response to the rapid growth of AI in education, young people may increasingly turn to artificial intelligence and place greater trust in it.
The survey, conducted last month, also found that fewer than 10% of young people believe schools and universities are adequately preparing them for a future in which AI plays an important role.
The report warned that the “legitimacy” of the education system could be placed at risk if schools and universities continue to act as though AI is simply a temporary problem that can be kept away from students.
It said educational institutions could eventually “look less like a serious preparation for life and work, and more like a protective fiction”, leading parents and students to question some of the existing requirements and expectations of the education system.
The report’s authors have urged the government to introduce a 10-point plan aimed at improving the use of AI across education. Among their proposals are the creation of a rapid-response AI unit within the Department for Education (DfE) and the establishment of a network of 100 schools and colleges that would act as “AI champion” institutions.
Sir Anthony described education as the UK’s “Cinderella sector when it comes to technology” and said the government should not wait until there is complete certainty before taking action on AI.
He argued that Britain already has the resources and expertise needed to become a global leader in AI education, but said the country has lacked the urgency and leadership required to make faster progress.
The government has previously announced plans to make AI tutoring tools available to schools across England by the end of 2027. It has also committed £23 million to expanding the testing of AI and other education technology products in schools.
The Department for Education has additionally created an AI Safety and Pedagogy Taskforce. The group is working with education and artificial intelligence experts to develop benchmarks for assessing the safety and effectiveness of AI technologies used in education.
A government spokesperson said AI is a rapidly developing technology that brings both significant opportunities and challenges, which the government is taking seriously.
The spokesperson added that the refreshed curriculum will place greater emphasis on fundamental skills such as speaking and listening and mathematical literacy, while ensuring young people develop the digital skills required for the future. The curriculum will also aim to help students recognise and identify disinformation.
