Parents are constantly grappling with how new technology might influence their children, from the newest smartphone features and social media apps to video streaming platforms and online games. In fact, parents have told Barna before that parenting has never been harder than it is now—and the number-one reason is technology. The latest (and arguably the most hotly debated) tech for modern parents to keep up with is artificial intelligence, which has seen exponential advancement in the past couple years.

Barna, in partnership with Gloo, is continuing to explore thoughts and feelings about AI and the wide-reaching implications of the technology. Overall, nearly three in four parents (72%) are concerned about AI’s impact on children and teens. So, how are parents’ perceptions about AI evolving, specifically when it comes to how their own children might engage with the technology?

Parents Have Concerns About AI But Aren’t Actively Learning About the Technology In a February 2024 Barna survey, parents revealed they are especially wary of AI’s safety and social effects on their children. A third of U.S. parents (33%) strongly agree, “I am concerned about the data privacy and security risks associated with my child using AI technology.” One in four (25% strongly agree) goes as far as saying that their child using AI “could negatively impact their ability to think for themselves.”

Despite these concerns, many parents admit they aren’t actively trying to learn more about artificial intelligence. Just 17 percent of U.S. parents tell Barna they strongly agree, “I actively seek out information and resources to better understand AI technologies.”

Most parents are at least somewhat interested in educational resources or courses on how to use or understand AI (28% very interested, 45% somewhat interested). This hints that parents may take advantage of learning opportunities about AI that are presented to them, but they may not take initiative to seek out these opportunities on their own.