Editorial illustration for Tech leaders, students weigh daily reliance on AI and safety for kids
AI's Daily Impact: Tech Leaders Reveal Student Insights
Tech leaders, students weigh daily reliance on AI and safety for kids
Tech executives and college students sat down this week to map out where artificial‑intelligence tools will sit in everyday routines. The session wasn’t a glossy product demo; it was a blunt inventory of expectations and anxieties. Participants were asked to imagine a future where AI‑driven assistants handle everything from scheduling meetings to grading essays, then consider who gets to decide the rules of that world.
One thread that kept resurfacing was the uneasy gap between convenience and accountability. While many praised the speed and personalization AI promises, a handful of voices warned that without a clear trust framework, the technology could outpace the safeguards families need. Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince warned that “AI companies should work to establish trust before launching a new” service, underscoring the pressure on developers to prove reliability ahead of mass adoption.
Against that backdrop, a senior product leader raised a question that cuts to the core of the debate, setting the stage for the following remark.
"We're actually putting this out into the world; it's something people are going to rely on every day," she says. "Is this something that I would be comfortable giving to my own child to use?" Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince emphasized AI companies should work to establish trust before launching a new product. A recent YouGov survey found that while 35 percent of US adults say they use AI daily, only 5 percent "trust AI a lot," and 41 percent are distrustful. An Ipsos poll showed that trust in AI companies to protect personal data actually fell globally from 2023 to 2024.
AI is already part of daily routines, yet comfort levels differ. As one interviewee asked, “Is this something I would be comfortable giving to my own child to use?” the question underscores a lingering hesitation. Cloudflare’s Matthew Prince reminded industry peers that trust must be earned before any new product hits the market, a point echoed by many in the conversation.
Students, meanwhile, see potential but also voice concerns about safety and oversight. The juxtaposition of optimism and caution suggests that widespread adoption will likely depend on transparent safeguards. No single answer has emerged, and the balance between convenience and responsibility remains uncertain.
What will shape policy, design, and user expectations is still being debated across campuses and boardrooms. Until clearer standards appear, both leaders and users will continue to weigh benefits against the unknown risks, keeping the dialogue open and grounded in real‑world experience. Educators are calling for curricula that address these ethical dilemmas, hoping to equip the next generation with critical tools.
Further Reading
- Student Generative AI Survey 2025 - HEPI
- Survey: College Students' Views on AI - Inside Higher Ed
- 6 in 10 Online Students Report Using AI, Survey Finds - BestColleges
- New survey details teen AI-use - CSBA Blog
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Common Questions Answered
How many U.S. teens are using AI chatbots daily?
[pewresearch.org](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/12/09/teens-social-media-and-ai-chatbots-2025/) reports that roughly three-in-ten teens use chatbots daily, with about 16% using them several times a day or 'almost constantly'. The Pew Research Center survey of 1,458 U.S. teens found that nearly 70% of American teens have used an AI chatbot at least once.
What concerns do experts have about teens using AI chatbots?
[cnbc.com](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/13/experts-warn-ai-llm-chatgpt-gemini-perplexity-claude-grok-copilot-could-reshape-teen-youth-brains.html) highlights concerns that early exposure to AI could negatively impact how children and teens think and learn. A preliminary MIT study suggests that the convenience of AI tools may have long-term cognitive costs, potentially stunting developmental thinking skills.
Which social media platforms are most popular among teens in 2025?
[pewresearch.org](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/12/09/teens-social-media-and-ai-chatbots-2025/) reports that YouTube is used by nearly all teens, with about six-in-ten using TikTok and Instagram. Snapchat is used by 55% of teens, while fewer teens use platforms like Facebook (31%) and WhatsApp (24%).