Teachers across Europe raise concerns about AI in the classroom

Teachers across Europe are concerned about the growing use of artificial intelligence in education, with some students relying heavily on chatbots for basic tasks. Epson Europe’s Educate to Empower 2026 Research surveyed 3,360 people in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland and the UK.

Some 80% of teachers said AI is having a noticeable impact on education, while 68% said its use in homework has a negative effect on learning. At the same time, 76% of students expect to be allowed to use AI, and 87% already use it in some way. The survey also says almost 90% use AI for school work once a week.

The EU’s AI Act has begun enforcement, requiring schools in the European Union to provide adequate training for AI tools they use. Dr Sarah Henkelmann-Hillebrand of Epson Europe said effective management requires governance, guidelines and training.

The survey found that 82% of teachers want more training to oversee students’ use of AI, while 78% want training and guidance for using it in their own work. Its findings suggest that schools should focus on abilities AI cannot easily replace:

• Analytical thinking
• Creativity
• Leadership
• Problem-solving