Methodology
Zogby Analytics conducted a nationwide survey of 1,000 parents between the ages of 21 and 55 to better understand their views on the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in their children's education, future careers, and everyday lives. Respondents were recruited from nationally representative online research panels and screened to ensure they were parents or guardians of children under the age of 18. Thousands of adults were randomly invited to participate in this online survey. Each invitation is password coded and secure so that one respondent can only access the survey one time. Using information based on census data, we use weighting techniques to best represent the demographics of the population being surveyed. Weighted variables may include age, race, gender, region, party, education, and religion.
Key Findings
Parents are broadly concerned about the impact artificial intelligence will have on their children's future. While many recognize potential benefits, particularly in education and workforce preparation, concern outweighs optimism across most measures. Parents believe AI will create significant changes in how children learn and work, and they place a premium on skills that cannot easily be replicated by technology.
Q101. Concern About AI's Impact on Children's Future
Eight in ten parents (83%) say they are concerned about AI's impact on their child's future, including 41% who are "very concerned" and 42% who are "somewhat concerned." Only 16% express little or no concern.
Demographic Differences
- Women are more likely than men to express concern (89% vs. 8%), driven by higher levels of "very concerned" responses (46% vs. 36%).
- Hispanic parents (46%) were more likely to be very concerned than Asian and White parents (both 40%).
- Rural parents exhibit elevated concern levels, with 88% concerned overall and half (51%) very concerned, compared with urban (42% very concerned) and suburban parents (37% very concerned).
Q102. Will AI Have a Positive or Negative Impact on Today's Children?
Parents are divided, though sentiment leans negative. Thirty-eight percent believe AI will have a positive impact (10% very positive, 27% somewhat positive), while 42% believe the impact will be negative (27% somewhat negative, 15% very negative). Another 17% are neutral.
Demographic Differences
- Men are notably more optimistic than women. Forty-eight percent of men see a positive impact (very and somewhat positive combined) compared with 29% of women. Conversely, women are more likely to anticipate a negative impact (49% vs. 34%).
- East parents are the most optimistic, with 51% expressing a positive view compared with 32% among parents in Central Great Lakes.
- Urban parents (49%-very and somewhat positive combined) are more optimistic than rural (28%-very and somewhat positive combined) parents, who are among the most skeptical groups measured.
- African American parents show somewhat greater optimism (43%) than White parents (35%), while White parents are more likely to express negative expectations (47% very and somewhat negative combined).
Q103. AI and Education
When asked whether AI will improve or hurt children's education, parents are more likely to see risks than benefits. Half (47%) believe AI will hurt education by making it easier for students to avoid learning and thinking independently, while only 22% believe AI will improve education through new learning opportunities. Another 28% believe both outcomes are equally likely.
Demographic Differences
- Women are significantly more likely than men to believe AI will hurt education (51% vs. 41%).
- Men are more likely than women to believe AI will improve education (27% vs. 17%).
- African American parents (28%) are more likely than White (21%), Hispanic (21%), and Asian (20%) parents to see educational benefits from AI.
Q104. AI and Future Employment
Parents are even more skeptical when considering future employment. A majority (55%) believe AI will make it harder for their children to find a good-paying job in the future, including 22% who say, "much harder." Only 28% believe AI will make finding a good-paying job easier.
Demographic Differences
- Women are more pessimistic than men. Fifty-nine percent of women believe AI will make employment harder compared with 50% of men.
- Younger parents age 21-34 (32%) are slightly more likely to believe AI will create opportunities, while parents age 45-55 (22%) are more likely to expect job-market disruption.
- African American parents stand out as the most optimistic (36% easier) racial subgroup.
- Homeowners are more optimistic (30% easier) about AI's employment impact than renters (24% easier).
Q105. Concern About AI Eliminating Jobs
Concern intensifies when parents consider workforce disruption directly. More than eight in ten (83%) are concerned that AI could eliminate many jobs available to their children as adults, including 43% who are very concerned. Only 17% are not concerned.
Demographic Differences
- Women are more likely than men to be very concerned (45% vs. 40%).
- Asians parents express the highest level of concern-52% very concerned compared 40% of White parents and African American parents (42%) who were very concerned.
- Urban parents (49% very concerned) show particularly elevated concern compared with Suburban parents (39% very concerned).
- Concern remains high across all income groups, indicating a broad-based perception that AI-driven job displacement could affect workers at many skill levels.
Q106. Most Important Skill for an AI-Driven Future
When thinking about preparation rather than risk, parents overwhelmingly prioritize human-centered skills. Technology and AI literacy ranks first overall (36%), followed by critical thinking (26%). Adaptability (12%) and communication skills (9%) form a second tier of priorities. Creativity (9%) and leadership/teamwork (8%) rank lower.
Demographic Differences
- Parents age 35-44 are the strongest supporters of technology and AI literacy (42%), above younger parents age 35-44 (32%).
- Younger parents age 21-34 are twice as likely to prioritize creativity (14%) than older parents age 44-55 (7%).
- College-educated parents place greater emphasis on technology and AI literacy than non-college parents (39% vs. 34%).
- Urban parents are more likely to emphasize technology literacy (39%), while rural parents show greater interest in critical thinking and adaptability (29% and 15%, respectively.
Overall Takeaway
The data reveals a consistent theme: parents view AI as both inevitable and disruptive. Most believe AI will reshape education, employment, and childhood development, and concerns about job displacement and long-term impacts outweigh optimism. At the same time, parents are not simply fearful of technology. Their emphasis on technology literacy, critical thinking, and adaptability suggests they believe success in an AI-driven world will depend on combining technological competence with uniquely human skills.
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