Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to be the jargon on everyone’s lips at the moment as the technology continues to evolve.
More than half of EU respondents believe that AI can both benefit and bring risks to teaching and learning, and that the education community should assess and explore both, according to new research by Eurobarometer.
Support is the highest among Finnish and Estonian respondents, at 65% and 63%, respectively.
Meanwhile, French and Irish respondents are most likely to believe that AI does not belong in the classroom at all, at 28% and 27% respectively — the highest figures among member states.
Men are more likely than women to believe that AI can improve teaching and learning, and that the education community should not be afraid to experiment with it.
Younger respondents aged between 15 and 24 are also more likely than older groups to agree with this statement.
About eight in 10 respondents “strongly agree” (35%) or “somewhat agree” (46%) that all teachers should be equipped with the skills to use and understand AI.
In contrast, just more than one in 10 “somewhat disagree” (11%) or “strongly disagree” (3%) with this view.
Respondents in Cyprus and Malta are the biggest supporters of the statement, while only 24% of Czechs “strongly agree” with it.
About four in 10 people say that schools and universities should have clear guidance on how and when to use AI, and that teachers should be supported in knowing how and when to use AI tools.
At least 85% of respondents in each EU country agree that all teachers should be equipped with the skills to help students in recognising various forms of disinformation online, such as AI-generated false text, videos, and images.
The proportion agreeing with this statement varies between 85% in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, and 95% in Portugal.
In addition, around 80% respondents across all member states claim that teachers should play a key role in supporting children in developing the skills needed for interacting safely with technology.
Personal phones are banned, while AI tools are encouraged
Despite openness to introducing AI in education, 69% of respondents agree that personal digital devices, such as smartphones, should be banned from schools.
This view aligns with the decisions made in recent years by some European countries, which have introduced measures to remove phones from schools.
At least 12 EU countries have adopted some form of restriction on smartphones in schools, while another four are considering it.
One of the latest EU countries to introduce a ban was Belgium. Its French-speaking community decided to ban the recreational use of mobile phones and other electronic devices in schools starting in the 2025/2026 school year.