AI and Chat Use: Lessons Learned

This short report uses new survey data to shed new light on how many Canadian's are using artificial intelligence (AI), what they use it for and how much they trust its outputs. The results of this new survey, commissioned by the Association for Canadian Studies (external link, opens in new window) , the Diversity Institute and the Future Skills Centre (external link, opens in new window) , confirm AI use is expanding, especially among younger Canadians, but that many remain concerned about its impact and use. 

This study was conducted through a web-based survey among Canadians aged 18 and older. A total of 1,700 respondents completed the survey, including a booster sample of 200 individuals with an immigration background. Respondents were randomly selected from Leger’s online panel and invited to participate via email. The questionnaire was available in both English and French. The survey took place from April 14 to April 27, 2026.

1. Young Canadians are heavy generative AI users, but they also express strong concerns about cheating and disclosure:

• Nearly half of Canadians use AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot at least weekly.
• Usage rises to roughly 60–70% among Canadians under age 45.
• Younger Canadians are significantly more frequent daily users than older cohorts.
• More than half of Canadians aged 18–24 say they know someone they consider to be cheating using AI.
  • However, when asked whether they acknowledge the use of AI tools at work or school, 45% said yes and more than one third (34%) said they did not acknowledge the use.
• Younger Canadians are especially likely to view AI-generated final answers as cheating.
• About 75% of Canadians support disclosure of AI use in academic work, including many heavy AI users.

2. AI translation tools are becoming part of the infrastructure supporting immigrant integration and communication across language groups:

• Immigrants and people interacting across language groups are substantially more likely to use AI tools, including generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Copilot.
• Over one-third say AI translation improves job performance.
• Nearly 30% say they would face more workplace barriers without AI tools.
• Non-English/French first-language speakers report the greatest benefits from AI translation technologies.

3. Many Canadians are already relying on generative AI to complete substantial portions of their work:

• About 24.8% of users say AI does most or almost all of the work for them.
• Another 18% say they contribute equally with AI.
• Younger users are more likely to rely heavily on AI-generated output.
• Heavy AI users are much more likely to see AI as beneficial overall.

4. Canadians appear to support transparency and disclosure more than outright restriction of generative AI:

• About 75% support disclosure of AI use in schoolwork or academic assignments.
• Around 60% support disclosure of AI use in workplace tasks.
• Even many heavy AI users support disclosure requirements.
• More people said it was unclear (47.2%) than clear (20.0%), or neither.

5. Dependence on generative AI tools is increasing even as trust remains moderate:

• One-third of Canadians say they feel increasingly dependent on AI tools.
• More than half of Canadians aged 18–24 report growing dependence.
• Roughly one-third trust AI-generated information most of the time.
• Another third trust  AI only about half the time.
• About 6% of Canadians don't trust the accuracy of AI at all and 25% trust it a little. Older Canadians are substantially more skeptical than younger Canadians.