Italian youth are increasingly using artificial intelligence, but they still have a limited understanding of how it works. Nearly four out of ten teenagers (39.9%) have at least one incorrect idea regarding its nature. Despite this, the majority of respondents do not support a ban: only 13.5% support a complete ban. This is according to a new study performed by Ipsos Doxa for the Giuseppe Toniolo Institute, which is a founding body of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart. The study identifies substantial gaps in comprehending AI. Only 54.5% of respondents properly relate it with the algorithms that control its operation, while 45% identify the role of training data. Misconceptions persist: 15.7% believe AI has a human-like comprehension of the universe, 13.9% endow it with digital consciousness, and 10.5% believe it can express personal ideas. Despite their cognitive deficiencies, adolescents do not advocate for a prohibitionist attitude. 73.5% say it is appropriate to use AI independently between the ages of 13 and 17, with only 13.3% preferring to wait until they are adults. The statistics on restrictions is even more significant: only 13.5% would prohibit the use of AI in all instances, whereas 30.1% would limit its use to specific contexts, such as testing or schooling. The poll, which was conducted between July 30 and August 10 among 800 Italian adolescents aged 14 to 18, found that AI is already a fundamental part of adolescents' daily lives, but significant obstacles remain.