Student and Teacher AI Use Jumps Nearly 30% in One Year

In a recent survey from learning platform Quizlet, 85% of high school and college students and teachers said they use AI technology, compared to 66% in 2024 — a 29% increase year over year. The survey polled 2,003 respondents across the United States: 1,002 students aged 14-22, 500 teachers at either the high school or college level, and 501 parents of high school or college students, to get their perspectives on AI implementation, digital learning and engagement, student success, and more.

Teachers outpaced students in AI adoption, at 87% vs. 84%, respectively. This too represented a change from 2024 findings, when students' AI use was slightly higher than teachers'. Teachers' top reported uses for AI were:

  • Research (cited by 54% of teacher respondents);
  • Summarizing or synthesizing information (47%); and
  • Generating classroom materials like tests and assignments (45%).

On the student side, top AI uses were similar:

  • Summarizing or synthesizing information (56%);
  • Research (46%); and
  • Generating study guides or materials (45%).

In general, positive attitudes on AI and education outpaced negative attitudes, at 43% vs. 37%, respectively. And across the board, 40% of respondents said they believe AI is used ethically and effectively in the classroom. However, Quizlet noted that students are less likely to feel this way (29%) compared to parents (46%) and teachers (57%), suggesting that there is a need for more education and guidelines on responsible use of AI technology for learning.

"Like any new technology, AI brings incredible opportunities, but also a responsibility to use it thoughtfully," commented Maureen Lamb, AI Task Force chair and Language Department chair at Miss Porter's School in Farmington, CT. "As adoption in education grows, we need clear guidelines that help mitigate risk and unlock the full potential of AI. Everyone — students, educators, and parents — has a role to play in understanding not just how to use AI, but when and why it should be used."

The full report is available here on the Quizlet site.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Highlight Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warnings about the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • various technology icons including a cloud, AI chip, and padlock shield above a laptop displaying charts and cloud data

    AI-Focused Data Security Report Identifies Cloud Governance Gaps

    A new Varonis data security report notes that excessive permissions and AI-driven risks are leaving cloud environments dangerously exposed.

  • abstract pattern of cybersecurity, ai and cloud imagery

    OpenAI Report Identifies Malicious Use of AI in Cloud-Based Cyber Threats

    A report from OpenAI identifies the misuse of artificial intelligence in cybercrime, social engineering, and influence operations, particularly those targeting or operating through cloud infrastructure. In "Disrupting Malicious Uses of AI: June 2025," the company outlines how threat actors are weaponizing large language models for malicious ends — and how OpenAI is pushing back.

  • student reading a book with a brain, a protective hand, a computer monitor showing education icons, gears, and leaves

    4 Steps to Responsible AI Implementation

    Researchers at the University of Kansas Center for Innovation, Design & Digital Learning (CIDDL) have published a new framework for the responsible implementation of artificial intelligence at all levels of education.