Abstract: This report provides a timely examination of the experiences of young people in Southern India, synthesising findings from an exploratory survey conducted between 2024 and 2025 and a group discussion conducted in 2025.
By focusing on individuals aged 18-30, one of the most digitally engaged and influential demographic groups in India, the study captures emerging behaviours, expectations, and concerns that are likely to shape broader societal patterns of GenAI use in the coming years. Finally, by examining emotional reliance, concerns about risks, and reasons for refusing to use such technologies, the study brings forward dimensions of youth engagement with GenAI that are currently under-explored in Indian research, creating an essential foundation for future policy and participatory governance efforts.
This report contributes to advancing an understanding of the delicate balance between cognitive offloading, evident in concerns about over-reliance and skill erosion, and emerging forms of AI companionship in the evolving Southern Indian sociotechnical context, with broader relevance for India. We hope this report serves as an empirical reference for policymakers and regulators to understand how young citizens in Southern India navigate GenAI tools in their everyday lives.
Report – Gen AI: Tool or Friend? © 2026 by Citizen Digital Foundation is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
