We’ve all wondered what the future will look like. Imagine this: It’s 7 a.m. on a Monday in 2036. The alarm doesn’t come from a clock but from an artifical intelligence assistant that already knows its user’s schedule, upcoming assignments and even how well they slept. Before getting out of bed, the teenager asks for a quick rundown of the day ahead: a math assessment, soccer practice and a reminder to finish a history project.
The Oracle sent out a survey to all 499 students and 100 responded. According to the survey, 59.6% of respondents said teenagers in 2036 would first check their AI assistant for their schedule, messages and news after waking up. Only 27.7% of respondents believed teens would scroll on social media first, while smaller percentages of respondents thought teens would jump into an AI-guided workout or start their day offline with family. These responses suggest, in the future, AI may become more of a tool and a starting point for the entire day. Charlotte Whittington (’29) believes this new technology will most likely be an efficent tool for us in the long run.
“The world will definitely be made of more modernized technology that we can use, maybe in our morning routines such as for scheduling or news,” Whittington wrote in the survey. “But it will definitely be energy efficient and helpful. They may, though, be too reliant on technology and their essential skills will be diminished compared to what they used to be.”
When technology begins organizing schedules, answering questions and even predicting emotions, independence could start to look different than it does today. We can see this reality emerging with the earlier versions of AI in todays world. Convenience is appealing, but growing up has always involved learning how to manage time, stress and responsibilies without something doing it for you.
School, however, may not be completely transformed. In the same survey, 51.1% of respondents predicted that school in 2036 will still mostly be in person, just with more advanced technology and more AI integrated into learning. Meanwhile, 21.3% of respondents said school would be split between in-person and virtual learning, and 10.6% of respondents believed education would be primarily virtual with AI teachers. Even in a high-tech future, many students still imagine classrooms filled with real people. Kayla Tait (’32) wrote that this helpful tool could soon turn into overreliance.
“I think school will be different with different types of projects accommodative to AI. I also think AI will be regularly used and encouraged by teachers,” Tait wrote. “The world might have more phones, different devices and more ways for people to do online activities. There will be more uses of computers, phones and iPads. Classwork and homework will be on computers, as well.”
Her prediction highlights how normalized AI could become in everyday learning. Personalized feedback and instant answers might make school more efficient and tailored to individual students. At the same time, though, there is something valuable about struggling through a tough math problem, debating ideas face-to-face or writing an essay without digital assistance. If every challenge has an automated solution, the meaning of “effort” may change.
Alongside academics, social life in 2036 may shift just as dramatically. Friendships could unfold through augmented reality meetups, AI-generated group chats or digital spaces designed to feel almost identical to real life. We can see this surfacing now with Snapchat and other similar apps and websites. Even if technology makes connection easier, there is a difference between interacting through a screen and sitting next to someone at lunch. As innovation accelerates, the question becomes whether efficiency will replace authenticity or simply reshape it.
“AI will probably make everything faster and more connected,” Whittington wrote. “But I still think people will want real interactions and real experiences.”
Her perspective suggests that while technology will evolve, human nature may not change as quickly. Teenagers in 2036 might have smarter devices, faster communication and more personalized systems, but the desire to belong, to learn and to grow will likely remain the same. The future may look different, but it will still feel human.
Still, the speed of change raises bigger questions about balance. Technology in 2026 already moves quickly, with trends, apps and devices constantly replacing one another. If that acceleration continues, teens in 2036 may have grown up in a world where upgrades happen before anyone fully adjusts to the last one. Progress can be exciting, but constant change can also make it harder to slow down and appreciate the present.
“Everything keeps getting faster,” Tait wrote. “I think, in the future, people might just expect things to work instantly.”
That expectation of instant results could shape more than just devices. Patience, focus and even creativity may be influenced by how quickly answers appear on a screen. A future powered by artificial intelligence has the potential to make teenage life more organized, informed and connected than ever before. At the same time, protecting independence, effort and real-world relationships may be just as important as embracing innovation. Ultimately, teenagers will have to make a choice.
The teenagers of 2036 will not just inherit new technology, they will decide how much of it defines them.
