UNICEF said on Tuesday that children are adopting artificial intelligence (AI) technologies at more than three times the rate of adults, citing new data from 10 countries.
Ahead of the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance, the UN agency said AI is already shaping childhood worldwide, bringing both opportunities and risks.
According to UNICEF, at least 20 million children have used AI, with more than two million—or one in 10—saying they rely on it for advice about personal concerns. An estimated 13 million children also use AI to support their learning and complete homework.
The agency warned that children are increasingly exposed to AI systems, including how they are designed, the business models behind them, and the way their data is used, while having limited ability to influence or challenge these technologies.
UNICEF stressed that children are often the first to experience the consequences of weak AI governance and will live with its long-term effects the longest.