Nearly half of young people in England now trust artificial intelligence (AI) more than humans to check facts, raising concerns about the future of the country’s education system.
A Public First survey of more than 4,000 people aged 11 to 24 found that almost 87% had experience using an AI tool, while fewer than one in 10 believed schools and universities were preparing them adequately for an AI-driven world.
The findings were published in a report by historian Sir Anthony Seldon and technology entrepreneur Tim Bunting, which warned that schools could lose their perceived value if education fails to adapt to the rapid growth of AI.
The report argued that England’s education system is still designed for an “AI-less world that no longer exists”.
It warned that pupils could eventually stop seeing school as a “legitimate use of their time” if institutions continue to treat AI as something to be kept outside the classroom.
“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.
Report Calls for Urgent AI Changes
The authors called on the UK Government to adopt a 10-point plan for integrating AI into education.
Among the proposals are the creation of a rapid-response AI unit within the Department for Education and a network of 100 “AI champion schools and colleges”.
Sir Anthony described education as the UK’s “Cinderella sector when it comes to technology”, arguing that the government should act without waiting for complete certainty about the technology.
“Britain has the assets to lead the world on AI in education – what it has lacked is the urgency and the leadership,” he said.
Government Sets Out AI Education Plans
The UK Government has previously announced plans for AI tutoring tools to become available to schools in England by the end of 2027.
It has also committed £23 million to expand testing of AI and education technology products in schools.
The Department for Education has established an AI Safety and Pedagogy Taskforce involving education and AI experts to develop benchmarks for assessing the safety and effectiveness of AI in education.
A government spokesperson said AI presented “significant opportunities and challenges” and that the issue was being taken seriously.
The government also said its refreshed curriculum would prioritise foundational skills, including oracy and mathematical literacy, while ensuring young people develop digital skills and the ability to identify disinformation.
What the Findings Show
The report highlights a growing gap between how quickly young people are adopting AI and how quickly educational institutions are adapting to it.
With AI already widely used by pupils and young adults, the findings suggest that schools face increasing pressure to explain how the technology should be used responsibly while maintaining the value of human teaching, critical thinking and traditional learning.
