Bridging the gap in the age of AI
Why mentoring matters more than ever
AI is changing how young people explore courses, careers and future opportunities. But not every young person has the same access to trusted adults, advice and support networks. Our research explores what happens when AI becomes part of future decision-making and why mentoring matters more than ever
Key findings
AI is already helping young people to make decisions about the future.
More than half the young people we surveyed are already using AI to explore courses, careers and future opportunities.
However, only 43% of young people from the most disadvantaged backgrounds said they received advice from parents or carers, compared to 77% of young people from the most advantaged backgrounds, though their AI usage was broadly the same.Â
While equal access to both AI tools and the training needed to make full use of them is critical, the greater social mobility challenge arguably isn’t access to AI. It’s access to people. While young people across all backgrounds are using digital tools to explore their futures, those from more advantaged backgrounds are far more likely to have parents, teachers and advisers helping them sense-check important decisions. Those without those networks may be left navigating increasingly complex choices without human support.Â
Â
Mentors bring trusted human judgement, lived experience, and reassurance. As AI reshapes access to opportunity, mentoring is a practical, proven way to make sure no young person navigates the future alone.
The numbers:
57%
Of young people surveyed use AI to help make decisions about the future
44%
Of young people surveyed use AI for university or course research
32%
Of young people surveyed use AI for career or job research
What young people told us
Behind every statistic is a young person making decisions about their future. These are some of the perspectives shared through our research:
"My worries are that more people are relying on AI to decide their future"
"Different uses of AI in medical innovation excites me, however AI replacing human connection and ability to think critically and problem solve worries me a lot"
"I used ChatGPT once to map out a future timeline: all the steps and qualifications I would need to get to do the job I aspire to do"
Why mentoring matters
AI can provide information, mentors provide interpretation.
Young people told us they value the things AI cannot replicate: lived experience, encouragement, empathy and human judgement. As AI becomes part of how young people navigate their futures, mentoring remains a practical way to ensure no young person has to work it all out alone.Â
Â
Explore the full findings on AI, mentoring and social mobility, including survey results, young people’s perspectives and implications for the future in our new report:
