As students’ use of AI rises, so do concerns about its influence

Parents and schools need resources to talk with young people about what they encounter online

Ginger Mullaney

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how Texas teens learn about sex and relationships, often faster than most adults realize.

A new Pew Research Center report finds that nearly one-third of American teens now interact with AI chatbots daily, and about two-thirds have used them at least occasionally. Moreover, 1 in 5 students (19%) disclosed having a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot, according to a recent Center for Democracy & Technology report. This sam report notes that two-thirds (66%) of parents have no idea how their children are interacting with AI.

For Healthy Futures of Texas, which works to improve the health and wellness of young people through evidence-based sexual health education, the question is no longer whether teens will turn to AI for answers about sex and relationships, but whether adults, educators, and policymakers will act quickly enough to ensure those answers are accurate, ethical, and safe.

A double-edged source of sexual health information

For many Texas teens, especially in school districts with limited or absent health education, online and digital tools like social media and AI have become a significant source of sexual health information. One known problem with AI is that it can “hallucinate,” producing responses that sound factual but are inaccurate. Chatbots may provide inaccurate or incomplete sexual health advice or normalize concerning behavior when teens use them as confidants. And for teens and adults alike, developing romantic or even delusional relationships with AI can have real-world negative consequences.

Texas’ existing disparities make this issue especially urgent

The new Pew data underscored how quickly AI is integrating into teens’ daily routines. That matters for Texas as the state already faces some of the nation’s most persistent sexual health challenges for teens.

In 2024, Texas had the 8th highest rate of teen birth in the nation, nearly 50% higher than the US average, and the highest overall count of teen births, according to our analysis. Hispanic teens in Texas have a birth rate 2.7 times higher than white teens, and Black teens also face elevated rates. Further, rates of sexually transmitted infections are increasing among Texas youth.

These trends reflect longstanding gaps in access to sex education and preventive health care.

Digital media, including AI, sits squarely at the intersection of these inequities. Teens with fewer in-person resources are ore likely to rely on online platforms, becoming more vulnerable to harmful content, misinformation, or coercion.

Building a healthier digital environment for Texas youth

So how do we harness AI’s promise while protecting young Texans from harm?

First, Texas schools must expand access to medically accurate sexual health information that gives teens both the facts and the skills to evaluate what they see online and build healthy, respectful relationships.

Second, parents and caregivers need resources and support to talk with young people about what they encounter online, including AI tools that may feel compelling but lack human oversight.

Finally, technology platforms must be held accountable for how their designs influence teen health and behavior. Stronger standards, better age-appropriate content moderation, and collaboration with public health experts can help steer young users toward trusted information rather than harmful myths. Texas has gotten a head start on AI regulation with HB 149, The Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act (TRAIGA), but more work remains, including policies that would address specific protocols around suicide prevention, self-harm, and sexually explicit material when interacting with minors.

AI tools are not going away. From homework helpers to AI “companions,” they are becoming part of teens’ everyday lives, influencing how they seek information and make decisions about relationships and health. When users have a better understanding of how their responses are formed and the limitations of AI, they can make better decisions.

Ginger Mullaney is the chief executive officer of Healthy Futures of Texas.