Young people across Europe are adopting generative artificial intelligence tools at almost twice the rate of the wider population, according to new 2025 data from the European Union.

In 2025, 63.8 per cent of those aged 16–24 reported using generative AI tools, compared with 32.7 per cent of the general population aged 16–74. The figures highlight a pronounced generational divide in the uptake of rapidly evolving AI technologies.

The data show that private use is particularly widespread among younger users. Some 44.2 per cent of 16–24-year-olds used generative AI for personal purposes, significantly higher than the 25.1 per cent recorded among the overall population. As might be expected, use in formal education was also far more common among young people, with 39.3 per cent reporting educational use, compared with just 9.4 per cent across all age groups.

By contrast, professional use was broadly similar between the two cohorts. Around 15.8 per cent of young people reported using generative AI at work, compared with 15.1 per cent of the general population, reflecting the fact that many in the younger age group have yet to fully enter the labour market.

Adoption rates varied considerably between EU member states. The highest levels of generative AI use among young people were recorded in Greece (83.5 per cent), Estonia (82.8 per cent) and Czechia (78.5 per cent). The lowest shares were seen in Romania (44.1 per cent), Italy (47.2 per cent) and Poland (49.3 per cent).

The findings suggest that younger Europeans are driving the mainstreaming of generative AI across education and everyday life, potentially shaping future patterns of digital skills, employment and innovation across the region.