Norwegian study: 9–18 year-olds are ditching Google for AI, but we know almost nothing about how it affects kids' cognition

NTNU researchers reviewed 173 studies on GenAI in education and found a glaring gap: 80% of participants were university students. We know surprisingly little about how AI affects critical thinking and problem-solving in 9–18 year-olds. Meanwhile, Norwegian Media Authority data shows Google search use in this age group dropped from 72% in 2024 to 47% in 2026, and 39% of 11–12 year-olds already use AI. The review found AI itself is neither good nor bad for thinking—it helps when used to challenge ideas and compare viewpoints, but leads to over-dependence and shallow thinking when treated as a shortcut to ready-made answers. The existing studies also suffer from regional imbalance and lack objectivity.