Gen Z and Millennials Embrace AI in the Workplace, Reshaping the Future of Work

A Google poll says pretty much all of Gen Z is using AI for work

Most Gen Z and millennial knowledge workers are already using artificial intelligence tools in one capacity or another at work. Some 82% of young adults in leadership positions at work said they leverage AI in their work, according to a Google Workspace (GOOGL-1.74%) survey released Monday. With that, 93% Gen Z and 79% of millennials surveyed said they use two or more tools on a weekly basis. The Harris Poll surveyed more than 1,000 workers between 22 and 39 years old in the U.S. who have or plan to hold a leadership position at work on behalf of Google Workspace. Most respondents said they use AI to start a task that feels overwhelming, improve their writing, and take notes, allowing them to join meetings on the go, Google Workspace said. A majority (86%) believe that AI can help leaders become better managers. What's more, 98% of the people surveyed believe AI will have an impact on their industry or workplace within the next 5 years. "The future of work is here -- and it's AI-powered," said Yulie Kwon Kim, vice president of product at Google Workspace. "Rising leaders are not only advocating for AI -- they're deploying this technology in meaningful ways, from improving communication with colleagues to freeing up time for strategic work." AI has become a point of contention the workplace. While generative AI has become a popular office tool, with OpenAI's ChatGPT becoming the most popular genAI tool for work worldwide in May, a number of workplaces banned or restricted the chatbot last year as they sought to grapple with potential knock-on effects of the new technology. On one hand, AI chatbots can help streamline work and help people carry out tedious tasks, like writing emails or proofreading texts. But employers, including JPMorgan Chase (JPM+1.56%) and Apple (AAPL+0.53%), have put restrictions on the use of ChatGPT over concerns about the improper use of the tools. One major pain point is what's known as "hallucinations," when generative AI tools give incorrect, misleading, or made-up answers.

Gen Z are all using AI to get their work done, study finds

Why it matters: The youngs are early adopters. If Gen Z is doing it -- there's a good chance that at some point soon everyone else might, too. How they did it: In the late summer, Google surveyed 1,005 full-time knowledge workers, age 22-39, who are either in leadership roles or aspire to one. What they found: 93% of Gen Z respondents, age 22 - 27, said they were using two or more AI tools a week -- such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, Otter.ai, and other generative AI products. Zoom in: Younger workers are using AI to revise emails and documents, to take notes during meetings or even just to start generating ideas, says Yulie Kwon Kim, VP of product at Google Workspace. Reality check: Google has a big stake in selling AI as the future of work. It's invested billions of dollars in the nascent technology -- this is just one small survey that helps make its case. What to watch: AI boosters say that all these tools make life easier for workers. They can avoid certain drudgeries -- like note taking in meetings, for example -- and focus on bigger picture tasks.

Almost 100% of Gen Zers Surveyed Admitted to Using AI Tools at Work. Here's Why They Say It Is a 'Catalyst' for Their Careers.

Our biggest sale -- Get unlimited access to Entrepreneur.com at an unbeatable price. Use code SAVE50 at checkout.* Despite most of Gen Z thinking that their jobs could be replaced with AI in the next decade, the vast majority are still using AI to help complete office tasks -- and they're open about it. A new survey released on Monday from Google assessed the AI habits of 1,005 full-time U.S.-based knowledge workers aged 22 to 39. Google called the group "young leaders" because they're currently in leadership positions or aspire to hold one at work. The survey found that 93% of Gen Z respondents from 22 to 27 years old are using two or more AI tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini AI per week. In comparison, 79% of millennials ages 28 to 39 indicate that they're doing the same. Related: Worried About AI Stealing Your Job? A New Report Calls These 10 Careers 'AI-Proof' These AI users are utilizing the technology to take meeting notes, write emails, and overcome language barriers. They aren't secretive about talking to ChatGPT either: More than half of them share AI-fueled insights and experiences with their coworkers. Three in four have even recommended AI tools they have had positive experiences with to their peers. "Rising leaders are not only advocating for AI -- they're deploying this technology in meaningful ways, from improving communication with colleagues to freeing up time for strategic work," said Google Workspace VP of Product Yulie Kwon Kim in a press release. Related: Google's CEO Says AI Is Now Responsible for 25% of 'All New Code' Created at the Company AI's writing abilities appeal to Gen Z and millennial workers who use it in the workplace. 70% of the survey respondents said that they have used AI to help draft an email response, while 88% said that AI can help them find the right tone when they write. AI also brings out leadership potential and carries promise. About four in five respondents want to use AI to become better managers and better lead teams. Half say AI carries great potential to automate repetitive tasks so that they can focus on strategic work. These emerging leaders "are not simply using AI as a tool for efficiency, but as a catalyst to help grow their careers," Kim stated. While AI can help grow careers, it also has the potential to replace jobs. Another survey released earlier this month by tech education firm General Assembly showed that 62% of Gen Z believed AI would replace their jobs within the next 10 years while a separate study from Duke University found that 61% of large U.S. firms plan to use AI to automate tasks previously carried out by humans within the next year.

Most young knowledge workers using AI: Poll

The vast majority of Gen Z knowledge workers in a new study said they are using artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their work, underscoring the increased embrace of the advancing technology. A research study, conducted by The Harris Poll and commissioned by Google Workspace, found 82 percent of knowledge workers ages 22 to 39 years old are harnessing AI tools at work, while 98 percent said they expect AI to impact their industry or workplace in the next five years. Further broken down by age groups, 93 percent of workers who identify as Gen Z and 79 percent of those who identify as millennials said they use two or more AI tools on a weekly basis. Google Workplace, which includes AI-powered tools like Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive and more, said many of the surveyed workers used AI to boost productivity and communication. About 70 percent used AI for email drafts and responses or helping overcome language barriers, the study found, while 88 percent said AI can help strike the right tone in their writing. "Our research shows that emerging leaders are adopting AI to increase their impact at work," said Yulie Kwon Kim, the vice president of product at Google Workspace. "Rising leaders are not simply using AI as a tool for efficiency, but as a catalyst to help grow their careers." The majority of workers also believe AI, including generative AI, can build leadership skills when it comes to teamwork, collaboration and communication. About 86 percent said AI can help leaders be better managers while 79 percent were interesting in utilizing AI to become a better manager, the study found. The survey comes amid swirling questions and some concerns over the use of AI in the workforce. AI's expanding use brings the potential for altered workflows and hours for employees, along with a possible threat of eliminating or changing job availability. Google has a vested interest in AI, pouring billions into the research and development of the technology as it seeks to keep up with competitors in the space. The tech giant is also harnessing AI in its own workplace and Google CEO Sundar Pichai said last month more than a quarter of Google Pichai said Google parent Alphabet's investments in AI are "paying off." This has included bolstering Google's Gemini AI chatbot and AI-powered search features. Google signed a deal last month with Kairos Power to use small modular nuclear reactors to power AI data centers. The Harris Poll surveyed 1,005 U.S. knowledge workers ages 22-39 years old for the Google Workforce report. These reports are employed or self-employed full-time and "currently hold or aspire to hold a leadership position."

Hardly workin'?: Shocking 88% of Gen Z uses AI to do their jobs for...

Fast-tracking it up the corporate ladder is now just a few clicks away, per new data which finds that 82% of youngish hotshots lean on artificial intelligence to do their work. An eye-popping 88% say the use of advanced technology helps them overcome "task paralysis." It's an affliction, similar to the social media-viral "functional freeze" phenomena, that flares up when workday duties become too demanding. "The future of work is here -- and it's AI-powered," Yulie Kwon Kim, Vice President of Product at Google Workspace, said in a release. "Rising leaders are not only advocating for AI," continued Kim, "they're deploying this technology in meaningful ways, from improving communication with colleagues to freeing up time for strategic work." And the Zs are nothing if not a generation that appreciates high-wired hacks for doing less and minimizing stress. Be it tapping ChatGPT to renegotiate their salaries, or ditching traditional resumes to land employment via "hire me" TikToks, newcomers to the workforce are constantly coming up with new ways to make 9-to-5 life easier. The study, a November report conducted by for Google Workspace, found that the resourceful fledglings of Gen Z -- young adults under age 27 -- are leveraging AI to tackle fairly simple tasks like drafting emails from scratch and jotting down notes during meetings. Researchers polled over 1,000 "young leaders," big-business newbies between the ages of 22 and 39, to find that both Gen Zs and millennials -- workers under age 42 -- regularly utilize AI while on the clock. "Ninety-three percent of young leaders who identify as Gen Z and 79% who identify as millennials use 2 or more tools on a weekly basis." But their dependence on digital assistance isn't just about taking the easy way out. "The data shows how AI can help scale business-critical soft skills, such as the ability to collaborate with others, communicate effectively, lead a team and more," said study authors. "It not only helps individuals get work done faster and more efficiently," they added, "but also changes how they work in meaningful ways."

Gen Zers Blaze the AI Workplace Trail, But Still Want More Guidance

The polls confirm the growing inroads that generative AI is making into business, and reflect how Gen Zers are embracing the tech more rapidly than older cohorts. While that may seem a logical role for members of the first generation brought up with digital devices in their hands to assume, it's also an indicator of how AI use is likely to rapidly snowball. As with social media habits and the adoption of office applications like Zoom or Slack, younger people have tended to blaze the trails and set the pace of new tech use for other age groups to follow -- as now seems to be true with artificial intelligence. While their numbers differ, all the recent surveys indicate Gen Zers are taking to AI for work in a very big way. According to a poll by online tech upskilling company upGrad Enterprise, "73 per cent of Gen Z (are) already integrating GenAI into their daily tasks." A nearly identical portion of respondents are also using results those apps supply with minimal or no editing. A study of 1,000 U.S.-based knowledge workers aged 22-39 released Monday by Google found 93 percent of Gen Zers regularly using those advanced tech tools. That compares to 79 percent of Millennials and 82 percent across all generations. Perhaps not surprisingly, the most frequent use cases cited were tasks for which early AI applications are widespread and easily accessible.

88% of workers would use AI to overcome task paralysis, Google study says

Would you use artificial intelligence (AI) to help you with a difficult or overwhelming task? If so, you're in good company, at least, according to the results of a new survey. Released on Monday, research commissioned by Google Workspace found that 82% of participants have already been using AI tools at work. Reaching more than 1,000 people, the Harris Poll-conducted survey focused on US workers ages 22-39 who currently have or want to have a leadership position at their employer. Also: This Google AI tool could be your new favorite study aid - and it's free Among the respondents, 88% said they would use AI to start a task that feels overwhelming. Some 70% have already used AI for email writing, such as composing challenging emails from scratch and overcoming language barriers. More specifically, 88% said they'd turn to AI to help them strike the right tone in their writing. 87% of those polled believe that AI would make them feel more comfortable writing long emails on their phones. While 90% said they'd feel more confident joining on-the-go meetings if they knew AI would be taking meeting notes for them. Some 93% of those who identify as Gen Z and 79% who identify as Millennials already use two or more AI tools each week. Also: How to use ChatGPT to digitize your handwritten notes for free Almost all (98%) of respondents expect AI to impact their industry or workplace within the next five years. More than half of those already using AI share their experience and feedback with colleagues, while 75% of them suggest generative AI (gen AI) tools to their peers. Those surveyed also favor AI to improve productivity, communication, and leadership. Also: Two free ways to get a Perplexity Pro subscription for one year Half of the respondents said they see the current and potential impact of AI on automating routine tasks, thereby freeing up time to work on more strategic tasks. Some 47% believe AI can help improve communications to resolve problems and foster better working relationships. Specifically, they believe AI can better coordinate tasks across different business teams and enhance communications for the hybrid workforce. Many of those polled -- working in or seeking leadership positions -- see AI as a way to help them better collaborate with others, communicate more effectively, and lead a team. Some 86% feel that AI can help leaders become better managers, while 79% said they're interested in using AI to become better managers. Also: AI isn't hitting a wall, it's just getting too smart for benchmarks, says Anthropic "Our research shows that emerging leaders are adopting AI to increase their impact at work," Yulie Kwon Kim, VP of Product for Google Workspace, said in a press release. "Rising leaders are not simply using AI as a tool for efficiency, but as a catalyst to help grow their careers."