When Sara, a 28-year-old mother studying part-time, logs into her online courses after her kids go to bed, she sometimes asks Syntea to explain a tricky psychology concept. She is not alone. A new German study shows exactly how students like Sara use AI learning helpers — and the answers might surprise you.
Researchers at IU International University of Applied Sciences looked at data from roughly 77,000 online students who used an AI tool called Syntea. That makes it the largest real-world study of AI learning assistants in higher education ever done, according to the paper published on arXiv. Unlike earlier research that mostly asked students to remember and report their own habits, this study simply watched what students actually did.
The findings paint a picture of AI becoming a normal part of student life. About 58% of the students in the study used Syntea during the period researchers observed. Younger students led the way: 64% of Generation Z students (born 1997 to 2012) tried the tool, compared with about 50% of Generation X students and 38% of Baby Boomers. Women used it slightly more than men — 59% versus 55%.
The study also found that students' AI habits mirror their everyday schedules. Full-time students mostly asked questions during weekday daytime hours, while part-time students — who often work jobs during the day — turned to Syntea in the evenings and on weekends. "The findings clearly demonstrate that AI-supported learning has become part of everyday student life at IU," said Quintus Stierstorfer, senior director of AI product and one of the study's authors.
One surprise: older students used the tool more than researchers expected. "Some of the results contradict our original assumptions — for example, the high level of usage among older students," Stierstorfer said. Students studying Psychology and Education, as well as Marketing and Communication, used the AI helper most intensively.
Professor Kristina Schaaff, who led the research team, said the work gives universities a solid foundation for building better learning tools. "Our study is the first to demonstrate how students actually use an AI learning companion, based on real usage data," she explained.
IU is already using these insights to improve Syntea. The tool, which recently evolved from an AI assistant into what IU calls a Learning Companion, will soon gain new skills including the ability to work with images — handy for visually focused degree programs. Future versions will also offer conversations tailored to each student's career goals. Research suggests this kind of personal touch can boost both student satisfaction and how much students stick with their studies.
For universities worldwide watching the rise of AI in education, the message from IU's campus is straightforward: students are already embracing these tools. The question is no longer whether AI will change learning, but how thoughtfully universities will respond.