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AI Adoption Among Teachers Shows Sharp Divide Across Europe, OECD Survey Finds

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Artificial intelligence is becoming a routine part of daily life, yet its integration into Europe’s classrooms remains uneven. A new international survey highlights wide disparities in how teachers use AI, as governments and education experts debate how the technology should be applied in schools.

The OECD’s Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS), covering 32 countries, shows that AI use among lower secondary school teachers ranged from just 14 percent in France to 52 percent in Albania in 2024. The average across EU member states surveyed stands at 32 percent, while the wider OECD average is 36 percent.

The survey defines AI use as employing tools that generate text, predict outcomes or assist with decision-making, whether in teaching tasks or for supporting student learning. Western European countries generally show lower adoption, while teachers in the Western Balkans and parts of Eastern Europe report higher engagement.

Eight countries reported usage rates of 40 percent or above, including Malta, Czechia, Romania, Poland, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Norway and the Flemish region of Belgium. On the opposite end, Bulgaria, Hungary, the French-speaking region of Belgium, Turkey, Italy, Finland, Montenegro and Slovakia recorded the lowest levels of adoption.

Experts say the gap cannot be traced to one factor. UNESCO told Euronews Next that national AI policies vary widely, shaping how quickly schools adopt new tools. Countries with proactive AI strategies—including those providing structured training—have seen more rapid uptake, while others have approached generative AI in classrooms with caution.

OECD senior project manager Ruochen Li said infrastructure, policies, cultural attitudes toward technology and the extent of teacher training all contribute to the divide. “We see a strong relationship at the country level between the amount of training offered and the use of AI,” he said.

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Education specialists at European Schoolnet added that AI adoption reflects each nation’s policy and support systems. They noted that training and reliable digital infrastructure are essential accelerators, a trend reinforced by the TALIS data. France’s nationwide AI training rollout in public schools began only after the survey period, indicating its usage rates may rise in coming years.

Among teachers using AI, most rely on the technology for preparation rather than direct classroom instruction. Across EU countries, 65 percent of users said they turn to AI to study and summarise topics efficiently, while 64 percent use it to generate lesson plans or activities. Experts note that administrative assistance provided by AI could help reduce time pressures on educators.

Looking ahead, specialists expect AI to play a growing role in classrooms. Some anticipate more student-facing tools, such as personalised learning activities or real-time feedback systems. Yet they stress that teachers must remain central to decision-making to preserve ethical oversight and maintain human guidance.

UNESCO said AI should support educators rather than replace them and must align with privacy protections and educational objectives. Teacher unions have also warned that as AI adoption accelerates, it should not contribute to de-skilling within the profession, particularly amid widespread teacher shortages.

Experts note that while the TALIS survey offers a snapshot of adoption, it does not indicate how frequently teachers use AI—whether it is a routine tool or something they have only tested. As debate continues, policymakers are working to balance innovation with responsibility in Europe’s evolving educational landscape.

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Yann LeCun to Leave Meta and Launch New AI Venture Focused on Next-Generation Machine Intelligence

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2 weeks ago

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November 20, 2025

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Yann LeCun, one of the most influential figures in artificial intelligence and a pioneer often referred to as a “godfather of AI,” has announced he will step down from Meta at the end of the year to launch a new machine learning company. The move marks the end of a 12-year tenure during which he played a central role in shaping Meta’s AI research efforts.

In a message posted on LinkedIn on Wednesday, LeCun said his departure follows five years as the founding director of Meta’s AI research lab, FAIR, and seven years as the company’s chief AI scientist. He said the time had come to pursue an independent path focused on advancing research he believes will drive the next major leap in artificial intelligence.

LeCun has been increasingly outspoken about what he sees as the limitations of large language models, the technology behind systems such as ChatGPT and Meta’s Llama. Despite Meta investing billions of dollars in LLM development, he has argued that these models will not lead to true machine intelligence.

“LLMs are great, they’re useful, we should invest in them — a lot of people are going to use them,” he said during an event on Sunday. “They are not a path to human-level intelligence. They’re just not.” He added that the dominance of LLM-focused research had drained resources from exploring alternative approaches, which he considers essential for long-term progress.

LeCun has long advocated for “world models,” a different form of AI that learns using visual data such as videos. Unlike language models that predict the next word in a sequence, world models attempt to predict what happens next in a physical environment, allowing systems to develop an understanding of cause-and-effect. He views this approach as key to building machines capable of reasoning, planning, and interacting more naturally with the real world.

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His new company will focus on developing the Advanced Machine Intelligence (AMI) program he had been working on at FAIR and New York University. LeCun said the goal is to create systems that can understand the physical world, maintain persistent memory, and plan complex actions. The start-up, called AMI — also the French word for “friend” — will pursue applications across multiple industries.

While the company’s work may intersect with Meta’s interests in some areas, LeCun noted that many applications will fall outside Meta’s commercial scope. He said launching AMI as an independent venture would allow the research to have wider impact. He also expressed appreciation to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, adding that Meta will serve as a partner in the new venture, though he did not detail the specifics of that partnership.

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Uzbekistan Unveils Major Incentives to Attract €85 Million in AI and Data Infrastructure Investment

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2 weeks ago

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November 18, 2025

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Uzbekistan has announced a package of incentives to attract over €85 million in foreign investment for artificial intelligence (AI) and data infrastructure projects, with most developments planned for the country’s northwestern region of Karakalpakstan. The initiative, introduced through a presidential decree, is part of a broader strategy to build a fully integrated AI ecosystem by 2030.

The programme offers investors significant tax breaks, access to low-cost electricity, and support for renewable energy adoption. Companies will be required to commit their own capital while implementing energy-efficient solutions, including battery storage and low-water or water-free cooling systems. These measures aim to ensure sustainable operations while mitigating environmental pressures in a region long affected by the Aral Sea crisis.

Karakalpakstan, an autonomous region, has experienced severe environmental challenges following the shrinkage of the Aral Sea, including increased salinity, dust storms, and the exposure of the former seabed. Officials see high-tech and AI projects as a way to boost economic resilience, create jobs, and attract investment while revitalizing the local economy.

Kamola Sobirova, Advisor to the Minister of Digital Technologies, highlighted the region’s advantages for data centres, including abundant electricity, relatively cool temperatures averaging 12–14°C, and land availability suitable for large-scale infrastructure. The area also offers logistical benefits as a western gateway to Kazakhstan and access to the Trans-Caspian corridor, facilitating the export of AI computing power, cloud storage, and big data services.

The initiative is designed to integrate new projects into the broader technology ecosystem rather than creating isolated industrial sites. Project proposals will be assessed based on export potential, employment and training opportunities for local specialists, reliance on renewable energy, and operational stability. Authorities will also consider innovative solutions such as reusing residual heat from data centres for greenhouse agriculture or community development.

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The AI and data infrastructure programme forms part of Uzbekistan’s national strategy to become a regional hub for digital technologies. According to government reports, the country has risen 17 places in the AI Readiness Index 2024, now ranking 70th out of 188 countries. By 2030, Uzbekistan aims to attract over €860 million in foreign investment, develop more than ten AI laboratories in partnership with academic institutions, and launch over 100 AI-based projects.

The strategy includes expanding technology clusters linking universities, start-ups, and industry, while integrating renewable energy to reduce emissions. The government projects IT service exports could reach €4.3 billion by 2030, positioning Uzbekistan as a competitive player in the global technology market.

Officials hope the incentives will not only accelerate the country’s AI ambitions but also drive socio-economic growth in Karakalpakstan, creating skilled jobs, supporting local industries, and strengthening Uzbekistan’s digital infrastructure for the coming decade.

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Italy Enforces Strict Age Checks on Adult Websites as Europe Tightens Online Safety Rules

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3 weeks ago

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November 17, 2025

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Italy has become the latest European nation to enforce strict age-verification requirements on adult websites, marking a significant step in ongoing efforts to shield minors from explicit online content. Under the new rules, websites hosting pornographic material must confirm that users are at least 18 before granting access, even if the platforms do not operate offices inside Italy.

The government has identified 45 major adult content providers — including Pornhub, YouPorn and Redtube — that must comply. Sites will be required to use third-party verification services, which will ask users to upload a copy of a government-issued ID every time they attempt to view adult content. Officials say the move is aimed at preventing underage users from accessing sexually explicit material through easily bypassed age prompts.

Italy’s action aligns with a growing movement across Europe. Several countries have introduced their own legal frameworks in recent years, each designed to strengthen protections for children navigating digital spaces.

In France, legislation passed in 2024 gave media regulator Arcom broad authority to punish platforms that fail to keep minors out. Sites that ignore notices can face fines of up to €150,000, or two percent of the previous year’s global turnover. Repeat violations can trigger fines of €300,000 or four percent of turnover. Arcom also holds the power to instruct internet providers to block violating websites for up to two years, with a 48-hour compliance window.

The French law drew national attention this summer when Aylo — the parent company of Pornhub and Redtube — temporarily cut off access for French users, citing the regulatory burden. Investigations by nonprofit AI Forensics later raised concerns about the reliability of third-party verification tools used in France, noting that some systems shared personal data with outside firms or could be bypassed with simple code edits.

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Spain introduced its own rules in 2022 requiring streaming and video-sharing platforms to create systems that prevent minors from accessing harmful content, including pornography and gratuitous violence. Police have since launched a digital ID app called MiDNI, which offers real-time age confirmation. A separate proposed verification tool, the Cartera Digital Beta wallet, remains on hold pending data-protection clearance.

Germany has some of the region’s toughest standards, insisting on digital verification checks instead of basic age declarations. Platforms must also include parent-controlled filters and appoint an independent youth protection officer. Violations can lead to fines of up to €500,000. German authorities blocked several Aylo-owned sites last year after courts ruled the company had ignored legally binding orders.

The European Union, meanwhile, is testing an age-verification system of its own. The pilot project aims to create a method for users to prove they are adults without revealing personal details. The system is expected to work with the digital identity wallets that all member states must implement by the end of 2026.

As European governments weigh online safety against privacy concerns, the debate over how to protect young users is set to intensify.

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