How Gen Z Uses AI: ScholarshipOwl Survey Reveals How Students Are Hacking Their Education and Their Future

From helping with homework to sparking creative ideas, artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a part of daily life for students everywhere. But how deeply are students actually engaging with it? What tools are they experimenting with, and how is Gen Z using AI to truly shape their learning journey? To find out more about how Gen Z uses AI, ScholarshipOwl went straight to the source, and surveyed thousands of high school and college students to gauge how much they are using AI, and which AI tools they most prefer. This survey further builds on our knowledge base in this area, after our previous survey regarding student usage of generative AI. And what did we find out? We learned that 97% of Gen Z students have used one or more AI tools, demonstrating that we are truly in the midst of a paradigm shift in education.

Who Participated in the Survey?

In May 2025, ScholarshipOwl surveyed 12,811 high school and college students on the ScholarshipOwl scholarship platform to learn more about how Gen Z is using AI and how AI is evolving the education landscape.

Among the respondents, 62% were female, 36% were male, and 2% identified themselves as a different gender identity or preferred not to respond to the question. Nearly half (43%) were Caucasian, 26% were Black, 17% were Hispanic/Latino, 7% were Asian/Pacific Islander, 2% were American Indian/Native American and 6% selected “other” or preferred not to respond to the question.

Nearly half (44%) of the respondents were high school students, with the overwhelming majority high school seniors; 44% were college undergraduate students, primarily college freshmen and college sophomores; 10% were graduate students and 3% identified themselves as adult/non-traditional students.

AI Tool Usage

With the first question, ScholarshipOwl’s goal was to better understand which AI tools students had tried. Students were able to select from a variety of AI tools that are known to be popular among high school and college students, and were encouraged to select all of the tools that they had tried. The overwhelming majority selected more than one tool from the list.

• 80% selected ChatGPT
• 60% selected Quizlet
• 59% selected ScholarshipOwl, although 100% of respondents were actually ScholarshipOwl users
• 50% selected Grammarly
• 27% selected Brainly
• 26% selected Google Gemini
• 21% selected Microsoft Copilot
• 17% selected Google Scholar
• 14% selected QuillBot
• 9% selected Mathly
• 7% selected Tutor AI
• 5% selected ChatPDF
• 5% selected Notion AI
• 4% selected Claude
• 4% selected Perplexity
• 3% selected Wolfram Alpha
• 3% selected Otter AI
• 1% selected Lateral.io
• 1% selected Consensus
• And 3% said they hadn’t tried any of the tools listed

How Gen Z Uses AI in Education

ScholarshipOwl was especially interested in finding out how students are using AI tools in relation to their education. Students were asked to select from several options to share how they were utilizing AI tools for learning, studying, completing assignments, and more. Respondents were able to select all that applied to them.

• 66% said they have used AI tools for studying / boosting their knowledge for specific subjects
• 56% said they have used AI tools for test prep
• 55% said they have used AI tools for research / searching scholarly literature
• 46% said they have used AI tools for note taking
• 35% said they have used AI tools for answer search
• 32% said they have used AI tools for scheduling / organization
• 31% said they have used AI tools to write essays for assignments
• 20% said they have used AI tools to write scholarship application essays / college application essays
• 5% said they have never tried using AI tools in relation to their education

Overall AI Platform Usage

The final question in the survey asked students served to gauge students’ overall usage of AI platforms. Students were asked to quantify the total number of AI platforms they use.

• 63% said they use 1 to 2 AI platforms
• 25% said they use 3 to 4 AI platforms
• 5% said they use 5 to 6 AI platforms
• 3% said they use more than 6 AI platforms
• 5% said they don’t use any AI platforms

Key Takeaways: What Our Survey Tells Us About How Gen Z Uses AI

Our ScholarshipOwl survey peeled back the layers on how Gen Z engages with artificial intelligence, revealing some fascinating insights that paint a clear picture of AI’s integration into the student experience:

• AI is No Longer “Future Tech” – It’s Today’s Tool

A whopping 97% of respondents have tried at least one AI tool, demonstrating that AI isn’t just a niche interest; it’s a mainstream reality for today’s students. Only a tiny fraction (3%) reported no experience with the listed tools, underscoring its widespread adoption. So we know how Gen Z uses AI – Gen Z students use it a lot!

• ChatGPT Reigns Supreme

With 80% of students having tried it, ChatGPT stands out as the dominant gateway AI tool. This highlights its accessibility and broad utility, making it the go-to for initial AI exploration for most students.

• Learning & Research are AI’s Top Classmates

Students are primarily leveraging AI for core academic tasks. Over two-thirds (66%) use it for studying and boosting knowledge, while 55% tap into AI for research. This shows AI is becoming an integral part of how Gen Z gathers information and deepens their subject matter expertise.

• AI is a Strategic Academic Assistant

Beyond just learning, AI is actively used for practical academic needs. A significant 56% use it for test prep, and 46% utilize it for note-taking, indicating AI’s role in optimizing study habits and organization.

• Writing with AI is a Growing Trend

Just over half (51%) of students are engaging AI for writing assistance, with nearly one-third (31%) using it for general essay assignments, and one-fifth (20%) using it to help write their scholarship and college application essays. This suggests AI is becoming a tool for overcoming writer’s block and refining written work.

• Students are Multi-Platform Explorers

While 63% stick to one or two AI platforms, one-third (33%) are exploring three or more AI platform tools. This trend suggests a growing sophistication and willingness among students to experiment with different AI solutions tailored to specific needs, moving beyond just the most popular options.

These takeaways underscore that for Gen Z, AI isn’t just a novelty; it’s a functional, integrated part of their educational toolkit, reshaping how they learn, study, and prepare for their future.

How AI Platforms Can Propel Your Journey

Our survey shows that Gen Z students are already savvy with AI, but there are so many powerful ways these kinds of tools can make a difference in personal and professional growth. If you are interested in exploring how AI can benefit you, consider the following:

• In Your Academics

Go beyond just essay drafting! Use AI to generate flashcards or practice quizzes for tough subjects, clarify complex concepts, break down research papers into digestible summaries, or even help structure an outline for a massive project. Need to understand a complicated math problem? AI can walk you through the steps. Want to brainstorm creative ideas for a presentation? AI can be your infinite idea generator. Remember to always use AI as a tool to enhance your learning, not as a replacement for your critical thinking.

• In Your Personal Life

AI can be your ultimate personal assistant! Use it to optimize your daily schedule, suggest healthy meal plans based on your preferences, help you learn a new language with personalized practice, or even spark inspiration for creative hobbies like writing stories or designing digital art. Want to organize your thoughts for a big decision? AI can help you outline pros and cons. It can streamline routine tasks, freeing up more time for what truly matters to you.

• In Your Career

Getting comfortable with AI now gives you a massive head start. You can use AI to research industries and companies, personalize your resume and cover letter for specific jobs that interest you, prepare for interviews with AI-powered mock interview tools, and even brainstorm ideas for your personal brand or entrepreneurial ventures. The more fluently you can integrate AI into your workflow, the more valuable you become to any future employer, regardless of your field.

AI and Your Future: Navigating the Evolving Job Market

Now that we know how Gen Z uses AI today, it’s time to look ahead to what’s next. The rise of AI is undeniably reshaping the job market, and for Gen Z, this means entering a landscape that looks different from previous generations. You might hear concerns about AI “taking jobs,” particularly in entry-level roles where routine, menial tasks are increasingly being automated. This shift is real, and it’s prompting a re-evaluation of traditional career paths. In fact, according to a recent article in the New York Post, employers are actively Gen Z workers who have experience with AI tools.

However, it’s crucial to understand that while AI may eliminate certain entry-level jobs; it’s also transforming some roles and creating entirely new opportunities. Employers need job candidates who can build, manage, troubleshoot, and leverage AI effectively. Your digital native status gives you a significant advantage, making you ideally positioned to work alongside AI, rather than in opposition to it.

How to Future-Proof Your Career with AI

The secret to thriving in an AI-powered economy isn’t necessarily becoming an AI developer (unless that’s your passion), but rather learning how to strategically integrate AI tools into your chosen field.

• Embrace AI Literacy

Understand how different AI tools work, how to craft effective prompts, and how to critically evaluate their outputs. This skill isn’t confined to tech roles; whether you’re in marketing, healthcare, finance, or social sciences, knowing how to use AI as an assistant will make you indispensable.

• Cultivate Human-Centric Skills

AI excels at data and repetition, but it can’t replicate core human abilities. Focus on developing skills like critical thinking, complex problem-solving, creativity, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and powerful communication. These are the skills needed for innovation, leadership, building relationships, and navigating unpredictable situations – areas where humans will always lead.

• Become a Continuous Learner

The AI landscape is evolving at lightning speed. Future-proofing your career means committing to lifelong learning. Stay curious, take online courses, experiment with new AI tools, and adapt quickly to new technologies and workflows in your industry.

• Focus on Problem-Solving with AI

Instead of fearing automation, think about how AI can help you solve more complex problems, analyze bigger datasets, or free you from tedious tasks so you can focus on strategic thinking and innovation.

Conclusion

The ScholarshipOwl survey clearly shows that Gen Z is already a generation of AI natives, integrating these powerful tools into their academic lives in significant ways. From mastering test prep with AI-powered flashcards to leveraging large language models for research and even essay drafting, Gen Z students are confidently navigating this technological revolution.

As we look ahead, it is important to remember that AI is not just a passing trend; it’s a foundational shift in how we learn, work, and interact with the world. By strategically exploring how AI can benefit us academically and personally, and by proactively cultivating both our AI literacy and our uniquely human skills, we can ensure that we are not just adapting to the future – we are actively shaping it. So let’s embrace the tools, hone our human edge, and get ready to lead the way!

Interested in Taking Advantage of AI to Help with your Scholarship Search?

ScholarshipOwl is your go-to resource for AI-powered scholarship search, match, and applications! To find out more, or to start your free 7-day trial, visit www.scholarshipowl.com.