The motivation of students to study is the main driving force in their educational journey and professional life. In the last decade, especially after the Covid period, we have encountered reduced motivation or very weak motivation to study among many students. We analyse and try to find out the main sources of motivation among technical university students and elementary and secondary pupils nowadays in Slovakia (eastern region). Moreover, we discuss the relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and external factors such as society (family, teachers, school fellows, and others), its preferred values, the mood in society, economic influences etc. Furthermore, we discuss the impacts of technical support such as mobile phones, chat gpt, CAX systems and artificial intelligence. The analyses are based on pupils' and students' answers and expressions in the questionnaire. At the same time, the results are compared with motivation to study in the past, i.e. 20-40 years ago. Based on the analyses, the possible solutions and recommendations for the future are formulated. Both authors have experience teaching university students for about 30 years. The second author has enriched teaching experiences at secondary and elementary schools focusing on technical education mainly mechanical engineering subjects such as physics, mechanics, technical drawing, manufacturing technologies etc.

Keywords: Motivation factors, society, technical support, questionnaire, students and pupils.