Undergraduates using AI for wellbeing support

The UK’s Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) surveyed 1,054 undergraduates about their use of AI.

According to HEPI’s Student Generative AI Survey 2026, 95% of students now use AI in at least one way, and 94% use it to help with assessed work. But beyond study efficiency and academic support, the report findings also shine a light on its use for wellbeing support.

AI exacerbates loneliness for some

Around 15% of students said they use AI tools for friendship and advice or specifically to tackle loneliness. What’s more, 8% reported using counselling or therapy services provided solely by AI. A further 4% said they use services where counselling or therapy is partly AI-driven. This reveals a small but significant group of students are turning to AI for emotional support as well as academic help – a trend to watch for the future, perhaps.

The effects of this use are not all positive, however. The survey found that 21% of students felt AI made them somewhat or significantly less lonely, but 20% said it made them lonelier (59% reported no impact). For some students, AI appears to offer a low-pressure, always-available space to ask questions, organise thoughts or simply have company. For others, it may extend screen time, which thereby reduces human contact and deepens their isolation.

More efficient study

Students who felt AI improved their study experience often praised its instant support, ability to clarify concepts and help them work more efficiently. Its efficiency can indirectly support wellbeing too, by reducing stress and freeing time for friends, hobbies and leisure. Yet students who felt AI worsened their experience raised familiar concerns, such as anxiety about false accusations of cheating, pressure from changed assessments and worries that overreliance on AI could weaken critical thinking and social skills.

Shifting sands

The survey findings reveal the effect of AI is now reaching far beyond academics and into the lived experience of being a student. For universities, it seems that student support policies must now include AI and its surrounding issues, so they need to ensure they are teaching better AI literacy and offering stronger human support, so students are not left to rely on algorithms for companionship or confidence.

Read the HEPI report here.