Over two-thirds of young students (68%) say AI is their biggest time saver at university, as evolving technology positions itself in higher education and creates a clear generational divide between new and former students.
The study from Adobe Acrobat surveyed 500 UK students and graduates to uncover how technology has reshaped academic life, including the impact of digital tools and the change in lifestyle pressures.
While AI is a considerable time saver, the sentiment is heavily generational. Only 15% of Gen X found AI a useful tool for efficiency and productivity during their time at university, with the rise of tools such as ChatGPT and Grammarly only surfacing in recent years.
Saving time on the study experience
Older students spent significantly longer on their university assignments; almost a quarter of Baby Boomers (22%) spent around two or three days completing work, revealing they also had fewer time-saving capabilities (78%).
The adoption of AI technology means only 6% of Gen Z students spend as long on their university assignments, with most (63%) spending less than 12 hours. Of those, as few as 5% feel they have no way to save time on their projects.
Across all age groups, internet access for research is considered the biggest time saver when doing work (48%), while instant translators are the least useful (7%). By generation, attitudes to study tools vary. AI-powered tools such as Grammarly are favoured by Gen Z (25%) and Millennials (36%), while Gen X favour general internet access (28%) and file sharing (25%).
Satisfaction and the impact on creativity
Admittedly, two-thirds of all students (66%) felt dissatisfied with their work after months of manual research without using tech tools, and a quarter of those (25%) feel technology has dramatically improved their quality of work.
However, access to polished and refined AI writing has made satisfaction among young people drop. Only a quarter of Gen X (27%) feel satisfied with their work without using technology, compared to over a third of Gen X (36%).
One in five students (20%) also say technology has reduced their creativity, yet nearly the same number (18%) say AI has transformed their creative output for the better – with Gen Z feeling most inspired (28%).
With so many young people now able to learn independently online, over a quarter of Gen Z (27%) now feel strongly against paying high tuition fees.
How technology is reshaping collaboration
When participating in collaborative projects, a third of students (33%) now prefer to do all group work remotely to save time. Group work is becoming increasingly less face-to-face. Only 4% of Gen Z ever collaborated in person, compared to almost a third (31%) of Gen X when they were at university. It’s a change that has been openly accepted by the younger generation, who say they prefer to do group work remotely (43%), unlike 8% of Gen X.
In addition to saving time, almost a third of all ages (29%) say presenting online makes them less nervous and able to perform better, whilst a quarter (25%) like the organisation that comes from keeping online diaries and timelines. Those sentiments are strongest across Gen Z, who have had broader access to technology and AI, with 20% and 26% saying as such.
The new digital student economy
It’s common for students to depend on part-time jobs to fund their university lifestyle, and for those in part-time work, AI is proving advantageous. A third of Gen Z (33%) were able to find more time to earn money, with AI tools saving them time on school projects, compared to just 3% of Gen X.
However, digital tools have made it possible for students to make an income online. Almost a third of current and former students (31%) say technology allowed them to use online stores such as Etsy, eBay and Vinted to sell items faster, and 18% have created an entire side hustle business via online technology. A quarter of Gen Z students (26%) have already launched their online side hustles, compared to just 3% of Gen X when they were at university.
Adobe’s tips for students
Use technology to reduce admin time
Tools that summarise notes, automate repetitive tasks and organise information can free up more time for revision and learning.
Find the right balance between AI and creativity
Though technology can help generate ideas and overcome creative blocks, your own thinking, expertise and perspective should remain at the heart of every project.
Make collaboration more efficient
Shared digital workspaces, documents and comments can help keep group projects organised and reduce unnecessary back-and-forth.
Stay productive on the move
Whether commuting, working part-time or studying between lectures, mobile-friendly tools can help you keep coursework and projects moving forward.
Keep everything organised in one place
Bringing notes, assignments, and project materials together can make it easier to manage deadlines and stay on top of your workload.
To find out more about how AI is impacting students across the UK, visit: https://www.adobe.com/
