A report says young people increasingly trust artificial intelligence over humans for checking facts and explaining unfamiliar subjects, raising concerns about education’s relevance in the AI era. Its authors warn that schools and universities risk losing authority unless they adapt quickly and provide clear guidance on safe, responsible AI use.

A Public First poll of 4,000 people aged 11 to 24 found that 47 per cent trusted AI most for fact-checking, compared with 21 per cent who preferred humans, while 87 per cent had used an AI tool. The report also found that 42 per cent believed AI had made education less important, 40 per cent thought it could replace most teachers within a decade, and nearly one in five pupils in England missed at least 10 per cent of school in 2025–26.