- EU/UK students use AI to get organized and productive rather than cheat
- Lenovo reports that students are using tablets more as they seek portable and cheaper options
- Universities could gradually become more accepting of AI as students say they are more encouraged
Almost all (98%) European students aged 18-25 now say that artificial intelligence helps them in some way, and new data from Lenovo reveals that despite prejudice from other age groups, young people might actually be using it to support each other rather than cheat.
Note-taking (73%), summarizing (73%), and brainstorming (72%) offer nearly identical use cases, with the technology widely seen as a support layer to help students stay organized, manage workloads, and stay focused.
Ultimately, the research concludes that AI is increasingly being integrated into learning as a way to help students process information more effectively, rather than bypassing learning altogether, and this marks a major shift in perception that could influence how universities and other institutions regulate the technology.
How are European and British students using AI?
Among UK students in particular, 79% use AI note-taking tools, 79% handwriting tools, 78% AI summarization tools, and 78% idea generation tools, and all at least once a week.
In fact, UK students are generally more positive than their European counterparts about the role of AI in generating ideas, helping them feel prepared, work more efficiently, feel more in control and stay focused, Lenovo found.
Separately, the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) found that 95% of UK students now use AI in some way, which is a major jump from 2024 (66%). Again, use cases cover explaining difficult concepts (61%), summarizing academic sources (49%), and finding information online (36%) – all aids to administrative productivity, not a replacement for education.
As students capture lecture notes, convert handwritten notes into documents, and organize information, Lenovo says AI’s biggest impact is actually in reducing administrative and organizational burdens.
These findings come at an important moment in the evolution of education, as many universities, colleges and schools are thinking deeply about how AI should be used and regulated. But Lenovo says creativity remains human-led, and fewer administrative tasks could actually free up more time for students to produce higher-quality work.
And HEPI has found that universities are starting to adapt – or at least they are in the UK. Today, about 36% of students believe their university encourages the use of AI, up from 28% last year.
Students could be driving a surge in tablet sales – at least for Lenovo
As for their favorite devices, Lenovo also says that tablets are becoming more and more common. According to the data, 94% of students say a tablet is or would be useful in all aspects of student life. Beyond education, the report shows how students would prefer a tablet over a TV if display quality and audio quality were comparable.
“For Generation Z, creativity can strike at any time of the day, so they need tablets that are intuitive and efficient, helping them stay in that creative flow for as long as possible,” added Alberto Spinelli, Marketing Director for Europe and META.
This trend could be influenced by ongoing supply chain tensions and the recent introduction of more powerful AI PCs, driving up prices across the board.
Lenovo accounted for about 8.2% of the tablet market in the first three months of 2026 (according to Omdia) and saw shipments increase 20% year over year, but the company’s analysts warn that the tablet market isn’t growing much at all. The market grew just 0.1% in the first quarter, compared to 3.2% growth in the global PC market.
“With ever-increasing pressures on the supply chain, modest growth in the first quarter will likely mark the high point of the year,” warned senior analyst Ben Yeh, implying that consumers could target cheaper devices (potentially including tablets) or delay upgrades altogether.
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