EU Guidelines on the Ethical Use of AI in Teaching and Learning (2026)
The European Commission has updated its Guidelines on the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data in Teaching and Learning for Educators reflecting the growth of generative AI and the introduction of the EU AI Act.
The revised guidance supports teachers, school leaders and education systems in making informed, responsible decisions about the use of AI in schools.
This publication complements the Department of Education and Youth’s Guidance for AI in Schools.
Updates in 2026
The 2026 updates incorporate:
- the EU AI Act and what it means for schools
- guidance on the use of GenAI
- a greater focus on AI literacy
- a strong emphasis on human oversight
- practical classroom examples.
Practical questions for schools
The updated guidance encourages schools to ask questions such as:
- Does this AI tool genuinely improve teaching or learning?
- Are learners’ rights and wellbeing protected?
- Is personal data handled appropriately?
- Is there meaningful human oversight?
- Can users understand how the AI is being used?
- Could the system disadvantage particular learners or groups?
- How will learners develop AI literacy alongside subject knowledge?
These reflective questions can support school leaders when making decisions around AI use in their school.
How teachers can use the Ethical Guidelines
Teachers can use the guidelines to build their own AI and data literacy and to reflect on tools already used in their classroom context or subject area.
The document tackles common misconceptions (e.g. that AI is too difficult to understand or has no role in education) and focuses on what educators need to know about AI systems, limitations and risks, without requiring deep technical expertise.
Practical examples (pages 13-15)
This version the guidelines provides many concrete examples of AI use in education.
The first category focusses on who is using the AI:
- Teacher supporting – using AI to support the teacher.
- Student supporting – using AI to support students’ learning.
- School supporting – using AI to support diagnostic or school-wide planning.
The second category outlined relates to when AI is used:
- For preparation – using AI to prepare for teaching and learning.
- For teaching and learning – using AI during teaching and learning
- For assessment and reflection – using AI to assess, evaluate and reflect.
Implementation
In practical terms, the guidelines encourage schools to treat the ethical use of AI and data as an incremental process of continuous deliberation and learning, rather than a one-off decision.
Leaders and teachers are advised to start by mapping where AI and data-driven systems are already in use, apply the guiding questions before adopting new tools, and ensure there are clear roles, policies and monitoring arrangements in place.
They also suggest involving learners, parents and the wider school community in discussions, paying particular attention to inclusion and accessibility, and using the glossary and references to wider EU AI and data policy as ongoing supports for decision-making in a rapidly changing field.
