Four in five young people with money worries chose a next step after AI consultation 2026-10-05 On 5 October 2026, AwakApp, a general incorporated association in Japan, published the findings and consultation design of its AI Mentor youth project in Japanese and English. Of 65 participants who reported worries about tuition, living costs or household finances before consultation, 52—four in five—selected a first action for that day afterwards. The pilot involved 507 AI Mentor users aged 15–19 across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Across the full group, 342—approximately two in three—selected an action such as researching, studying or talking to someone. Supported by Water Dragon Foundation, the pilot ran from 1 to 10 August 2026. These counts are self-reports from the immediate post-consultation questionnaire, not verified completed actions or effects attributable solely to AI. The 65 participants reported money worries; they were not classified as a low-income group. https://simy.one/news/20261005-en.html Participants with money worries The subgroup consists of 65 participants selecting worries about tuition, living costs or household finances in pre-consultation question SC6. Of these, 52 selected an action category (options 1–9) in post-consultation question Q4. This subgroup is included in the full sample of 507. Other immediate responses 314 participants selected at least one of seven responses covering clearer goals, new options, understanding information, clarification of concerns or deciding today’s action. In a separate question, 243 reported selecting among suggestions, adapting a suggestion or devising another action. Household comparisons Excluding 44 unsure or declined responses, 463 participants were classified: 158 reported 0–3 of nine resources, and 305 reported 4–9. Respectively, 108 (68.4%) and 224 (73.4%) selected an action. Post-consultation descriptions Among those giving concrete descriptions of their consultation, 59/74 and 186/230 selected an action. Those without concrete descriptions numbered 84/158 and 75/305. These figures do not measure pre-consultation ability or establish the reasons for the responses. Project lead AwakApp (General Incorporated Association) Grant support Water Dragon Foundation Pilot dates 1–10 August 2026 Participants 507 people aged 15–19 across all 47 prefectures of Japan. High-school students: 71.0%. Female participants: 73.4%. The sample is not representative of all young people. Implementation support GMO Research & AI supported the study, which recruited people aged 15–19 across Japan, excluding junior-high-school students, to experience AI consultation and answer questionnaires. Method Pre-consultation questionnaire, use of AI Mentor and an immediate post-consultation questionnaire. Participants then read material introducing scholarships and related topics, plus a message from IITH students, and reported their reactions. The main outcomes above use the immediate post-consultation responses. Household classification Nine indicators: family meals out, domestic travel, international travel, a family car, cram school, learning materials, extracurricular costs, a study desk, and discussing education costs at home without worry. This is not an income measure or official poverty classification. Scope Descriptive analysis of immediate self-reports, without a control-group comparison or follow-up of action or persistence. The 342 participants selected an action category after consultation; this is not a count of people who changed from having no decided action beforehand. The results do not establish that household disparities were eliminated or that effects were equivalent across groups. Source Water Dragon Foundation Project Completion Report: AI Mentor, dated 25 August 2026. Wording and interpretation have been revised for publication while retaining the reported figures. What is being published? On 5 October 2026, AwakApp published findings from 507 AI consultation users, household comparisons and the consultation process in Japanese and English. Each report has 30 slides, with PDF and text access. Who does “four in five” refer to? It refers to the subgroup of 65 participants who reported money worries before consultation; 52 selected an action category afterwards. The full-sample figure is 342/507. These figures are not population estimates for all young people. How does the consultation differ from a general AI chat? The project used a defined sequence: users choose two of eight perspectives, then work through a staged plan toward something they can do in five to ten minutes that day. No comparative trial against other services was conducted. Can the consultation process be viewed? Slides 7 and 8 show a screen example constructed from actual AI output, using university admissions to illustrate the process. It is not a participant chat log or an interactive demo. Were subsequent actions or reduced economic disparities verified? The main figures describe immediate self-reported choices. Subsequent execution, persistence and reduced economic disparities were not verified. Post-consultation states must be distinguished from changes measured before and after use. Where can I find information about SIMY today? SIMY’s official website describes current product features and plans. The youth pilot and the current product information should be read separately. Contact the media desk on this page about applications to youth support. AwakApp Japan LLC handles media inquiries about the methods, consultation design and household comparisons. Contact: Tetsuo Shiwaku (tetsuo@simy.one). Please credit “AwakApp (General Incorporated Association), AI Mentor project report” when citing the findings. This page provides the detailed results and report. Consultation screen examples https://simy.one/news/20261005-en.html#slide-07 https://simy.one/news/20261005-en.html#slide-08