Students learning on computers at a junior high school (Serbia, June 17, 2024) © UNICEF/UNI712730/ NEW YORK/GENEVA, June 30, 2026 – Ahead of the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance, to be held in Geneva from July 6-7, UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) has released the findings of its latest survey on children's use of AI, calling for the inclusion of children's safety and protection rights in AI governance. *** Artificial intelligence (AI) is already becoming a part of our lives and society, and is now impacting the development and experiences of children worldwide, with both positive and negative consequences. Data has emerged confirming the significant scale and speed at which AI is spreading among children globally, highlighting the associated risks and disparities. Children engrossed in smartphones in an underground shelter in the constantly shelled Kherson region (Ukraine, March 11, 2026) © UNICEF/UNI981140/Malashina Based on an analysis by UNICEF using data from 10 countries, it is estimated that at least 20 million children have used AI. Furthermore, it has become clear that many of them began using AI more than three times faster than adults. The use of AI by children is spreading at a pace significantly exceeding that of adults. Additionally, the survey revealed that over 2 million children, or 1 in 10, reported seeking advice from AI on their anxieties and concerns. An estimated 13 million children are using AI for their studies and homework. While AI use is rapidly spreading among children, the rules governing its governance have not kept pace with these changes, including regulations to protect children. 14-year-old Damaa studies on a computer at a UNICEF-supported learning center (Jordan, May 21, 2025) © UNICEF/UNI820348/El-Noaimi Children are more broadly exposed than adults to AI systems, including their design, underlying business models, and how their data is used. However, their ability to avoid or object to these systems is far more limit