The Educator 13 August 2026 by Jonalyn Cueto
New research from Australia’s online safety regulator shows nearly four in five children aged 10 to 17 have used an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant. More than half are turning to these tools for personal or emotional support rather than schoolwork alone.
The report, Talking to Machines: Children’s Experiences with AI Assistants and Companions, surveyed 1,950 children aged 10 to 17 living in Australia. It was conducted between 2 February and 4 March 2026 and was published by the eSafety Commissioner, Australia’s national online safety regulator.