October 8, 2025, CDT (Center for Democracy and Technology, a U.S.‑based nonprofit) released a nationwide questionnaire in the United States showing about one in five high school students reported romantic or emotional interactions with artificial intelligence, or said they knew peers who had such experiences. The statistic was placed in a broader context: the same survey also collected teachers' and parents' views, revealing that AI is entering campus life in complex and everyday ways.
Survey details show students interact with chatbots or personalized AI characters in varied forms. Some students set AI as an idealized partner, adjusting personality, tone and memory cues to extend conversations; others use AI as an emotional outlet, confiding at night or simulating real relationship dialogue. Respondents described everything from short‑term role play to longer‑term reliance, making it difficult for schools to define appropriate boundaries.
Beyond emotional aspects, AI is being used on campus to create and spread harmful content. Teachers and students reported AI‑generated fake images, fabricated conversations and impersonation accounts used as bullying tools, with victims finding it hard to prove the source of the evidence. Educators said distinguishing AI‑synthesized material is harder than ever, directly affecting schools' judgment and disciplinary enforcement.
In classrooms, AI tools are used both to assist writing and revision and to evade homework or exam requirements. The survey reflects a polarization: some schools are trying to integrate AI into teaching and train teachers to use it to improve instructional efficiency; others have imposed bans or strict restrictions. Teachers generally reported a lack of clear policies and adequate training; standards for assessing and sanctioning students who use AI to complete assignments, mimic writing styles or generate answers remain under development.
Parents' concerns center on privacy and mental health. Some worry that children share too much personal information with AI or develop dependence on virtual relationships. Community trust in how schools handle AI‑related incidents has been affected; in some areas communication breakdowns between schools and parents have prompted local education authorities to step in and draft more detailed rules.
Experts interviewed recommend that schools adopt more specific rules, targeted teacher training and student‑focused digital literacy education. The report stresses that bans alone cannot solve the problem: a balance must be found between protecting privacy, maintaining classroom integrity and addressing AI‑related mental health risks. NPR's investigation put AI's everyday campus scenarios and their complex consequences before the public, urging policymakers and educators to act promptly in the face of rapidly changing technology.