Majority of Americans Say AI Poses More Harm Than Benefit in K-12 Schools

Poll shows most U.S. adults believe AI harms education, with 53% opposing its use in schools.

September 17, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — New York, United States — A recent survey reveals that a majority of U.S. adults believe artificial intelligence is more harmful than beneficial in K-12 education, with 53% expressing this view compared to 27% who see more advantages.

The findings mirror similar concerns about AI’s role in higher education, where 54% of respondents felt it did more harm than good, while 24% saw more benefits. The data also highlights shifting attitudes toward AI integration in classrooms, with 44% of adults now believing schools that incorporate AI better prepare students for the future, down from 53% in June 2025.

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Conversely, 56% of respondents support schools that ban AI use, an increase of 9 percentage points since the earlier survey. While some see AI as useful for tasks like proofreading and research, nearly a third of adults said no AI use should be allowed in schoolwork. Meanwhile, only 7% approved of students using AI to generate content. As debates over AI in education intensify, some districts have begun imposing restrictions, including New York City, which recently limited AI use until high school.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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