Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
According to UNICEF data from 10 countries, at least 20 million children are using artificial intelligence to aid their learning, solve problems, and seek advice on personal issues, with young people adopting AI three times faster than adults. About two million children reported turning to AI for guidance about concerns that worry them, while 13 million use it to assist with schoolwork and homework.
UNICEF noted that AI is increasingly influencing childhood globally, offering new opportunities for creativity and education but also presenting unknown effects on children's development and emotional health. The agency described the situation as a global experiment affecting a generation of children.
Children themselves acknowledge risks related to AI; one-third fear its use in scams or misinformation, and one-quarter worry about the manipulation of their images or videos into explicit deepfakes. UNICEF emphasized that children often face the consequences of inadequately regulated AI systems while having limited control over the technology’s design or how their data is gathered and used.
Ahead of the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance, UNICEF urged governments and technology firms to prioritize children's rights in AI regulations. The agency called for stronger protections against AI-driven sexual exploitation, increased research on AI's developmental impacts, safer and more transparent AI systems, better digital literacy for children and parents, and broader digital access to reduce disparities in AI use. UNICEF stated that decisions about AI will influence children's safety, privacy, well-being, and opportunities for years to come.