Smart technologies have become an integral part of everyday life, creating the need for a better understanding of how they are used across diverse sociocultural contexts and social groups. We draw on data from a representative survey (2023–2024) of 2,098 students in Poland and the UK to explore differences in smart technology use. Students in the UK are significantly more likely to use smart technologies than their peers in Poland. Regression analysis shows higher usage among men, and among individuals with greater trust in AI, better English skills, a stronger sense of social pressure, and belief in human responsibility for AI. Trust and perceived social control emerge as the strongest predictors. We argue that classic domestication theory should be revised to include transparency, accountability, and social legitimacy as key conditions for integrating smart technologies into students’ lives.