By 2025, artificial intelligence had become a normal part of daily life for young Europeans.

New EU data reveals that 63.8% of people aged 16–24 used generative AI tools last year — almost double the rate seen across the general population.

By comparison, only 32.7% of people aged 16–74 reported using tools such as AI chatbots, image generators, or text assistants. The figures highlight a clear generational divide in how quickly new technologies are being adopted.

AI becomes part of everyday youth life

Young people are not just experimenting with AI — they are integrating it into multiple areas of their lives. Private use of generative AI was particularly common, with 44.2% of 16–24-year-olds using AI tools for personal tasks such as writing, learning, or creative projects. Among the wider population, that figure stood at 25.1%.

Education is another area where the gap is striking. Nearly four in ten young people (39.3%) used generative AI for formal education in 2025, compared with just 9.4% of the general population. This reflects the growing role of AI in studying, research, and school assignments.

Professional use still similar across ages

In contrast, work-related use of AI tools showed little difference between age groups. About 15.8% of young people used AI professionally, closely matching the 15.1% recorded for the broader population. This similarity is largely explained by the fact that many people aged 16–24 are still in education and have not yet entered the labour market.

Greece leads EU in youth AI adoption

AI usage among young people varies widely across the European Union.

The highest adoption rates were recorded in:

- Greece: 83.5%

- Estonia: 82.8%

- Czechia: 78.5%

At the other end of the scale, the lowest shares of young AI users were found in:

- Romania: 44.1%

- Italy: 47.2%

- Poland: 49.3%

A timely reminder on Safer Internet Day

The publication of the data coincides with Safer Internet Day, observed on 10 February, underscoring the importance of digital skills, critical thinking, and responsible AI use — especially among younger generations who are leading the digital shift.

As AI tools become more accessible and powerful, today’s youth are setting the pace for how this technology will shape education, work, and everyday life across Europe. Photo by Jernej Furman from Slovenia, Wikimedia commons.