Teens turn to chatbots as they find it easier than talking to humans

A growing number of teens are turning to AI, not other humans, for help, often because they find it's quicker, research shows. — Photo: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa

LONDON: Almost a fifth of young people with access to smartphones turn to chatbots because they find it easier than talking to a real person, while some even say they trust artificial intelligence (AI) more than humans, according to research.

More than three quarters of those aged 11-18 surveyed said they are mostly on screens in their free time, with almost half (48%) spending the majority of their spare time in their bedrooms.