According to a survey by Groupe VYV and the CNIL carried out in four European countries, nearly 9 out of 10 young people use conversational AI in France and almost one in two discuss personal subjects there, with these tools establishing themselves as contacts in matters of mental health – not without risks for their well-being and their data. Communiqué.
The use, massive, goes beyond the utilitarian framework. Initially confined to school or professional uses, conversational AI is taking an increasing place in the lives of young people, to the point of investing in a more personal sphere. They become, for some, a space of confidence: 48% use them to talk about personal or intimate subjects, and 33% consider them as a “psychiatrist” in certain cases. This proportion reaches 46% among young respondents suffering from anxiety.
This development reflects a profound transformation of digital uses: AI is no longer limited to a fun tool, it becomes an accessible interlocutor, available at any time, perceived as non-judgmental and easy to access. It is thus part of the informal pathways of listening, advice and support in daily life.
Significant confidence, in a context of psychological fragility
This adoption takes place in a worrying context. In France, more than one in four young people have a suspicion of generalized anxiety disorder. In this landscape, conversational AI emerges as additional support. However, the survey confirms that human connections remain central: friends and family remain young people’s first contacts to talk about their difficulties. AI does not replace it, but is added as a complementary relay in their daily lives.
This growing position is accompanied by a significant level of confidence:
- 69% of young people believe that an AI can give reliable advice;
- 56% that she can keep discussions with her secret;
- and 51% that it can protect the information entrusted to it.
A gap between trust and understanding of risks
If trust is established, understanding of the issues remains partial. Only 32% of young people say they know what happens to the data they share with these tools. This discrepancy results in uncomfortable situations: 34% of young people who have used AI for personal matters say they have already felt uncomfortable because of advice they received. At the same time, 85% express a desire for more information on risks and best practices. These results reveal a clear expectation: young people want to be better informed to make informed use of these tools.
Better inform, prevent and support: a shared priority
For the VYV Group and the CNIL, the challenge is neither to slow down innovation nor to trivialize uses, but to contribute to building a framework of trust. The results of the survey show that there is favorable ground: young people remain attached to their loved ones and express a strong expectation of support. It is becoming essential to fully integrate digital technology into prevention policies, combining innovation, data protection and support for uses.
With this in mind, Groupe VYV and the CNIL have launched the European initiative AI*me, in order to transform this observation into action. This platform aims to bring together researchers, health professionals, educators and regulators to better understand uses, develop tools adapted to young people and create, on a European scale, benchmarks of trust in matters of mental health and data protection.
À propos de l’étude
Étude Ipsos BVA pour le Groupe VYV et la CNIL auprès de 3 800 jeunes âgés de 11 à 25 ans : France (1 000), Allemagne (1 000), Suède (1 000), Irlande (800).
To find out more:
• Study – The impact of AI users on the mental health of young Europeans.
To explore further:
• Conversational AI and young people’s mental health: an unprecedented European debate driven by the words of young people
• Resources for young people
• CNIL resources on artificial intelligence
