Actua / Abacus Data: Ready for AI? National Survey Report (2025)

Author

Actua & Abacus Data

Ready for AI? How Canadian Educators, Youth, Parents and Caregivers are Using and Thinking About Artificial Intelligence

Primary Source: Actua Ready for AI Official Report (PDF)
Organization: Actua Canada

Overview

Published in June 2025 by Actua (Canada’s leading national STEM outreach network) in partnership with Abacus Data, this study provides a comprehensive national benchmark of AI perceptions and usage across Canadian K–12 education. The report draws on national surveys capturing the perspectives of 502 Canadian K–12 educators, 1,000 youth (aged 12 to 18), and 1,000 parents/caregivers.

Key Findings

1. The Perception & Readiness Gap

  • Effective Use: 71% of youth say they know how to use AI tools effectively, but only 38% of educators believe their students have this skill.
  • Responsible Use: 73% of youth believe they use AI responsibly, while only 36% of educators share this confidence.
  • Youth Overconfidence: The report suggests youth may be overconfident, underestimating risks related to data privacy, algorithmic bias, hallucinated outputs, and loss of fundamental skills.

2. High Youth Adoption vs. Adult Concerns

  • 9 in 10 Canadian youth report already using AI tools in their daily lives or schoolwork.
  • Educators and parents express higher concern than youth across key risk areas:
    • Cheating & Plagiarism: 84% of educators and 74% of parents vs. 59% of youth.
    • Misinterpreting AI Results: 77% of educators and 75% of parents vs. 50% of youth.
    • Misuse / Deepfakes: 80% of educators and 77% of parents vs. 62% of youth.

3. Educator Experience & PD Needs

  • High Trial, Low Regular Use: 87% of Canadian teachers have tried using AI for work or classroom tasks, but few use it regularly for specific workflows.
  • Support Barriers: Educators recognize their vital role in guiding students but cite time constraints, competing priorities, and inconsistent board policies as major barriers to pursuing professional learning.

4. Shared Consensus on AI Literacy

  • Educators, youth, parents, and caregivers overwhelmingly agree that critical AI literacy, ethical awareness, and technical skills are essential for 21st-century education and future workforce readiness.

Primary Source Reference