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How Gen Z Uses Gen AI—and Why It Worries Them

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When it comes to gen AI, the habits, attitudes, and ideas of Gen Z are a harbinger of the future of work—and how the rest of us will feel when we get there. A survey of nearly 2,500 U.S. adults between the ages of 18 and 28 years old revealed some surprising findings. Most members of Gen Z use gen AI and, contrary to conventional wisdom, Gen Z’s relationship with these tools is more pragmatic than personal. Moreover, they use it even in situations where they’re explicitly told not to. The survey also revealed anxieties about what gen AI is doing to its users: Respondents worried it’s making people lazier and less intelligent by crowding out opportunities to learn by doing, critical thinking, and social learning. There are, however, some reasons for optimism. Respondents reported that AI tools can offer novel viewpoints, help them break problems into smaller parts, and free up time for meaningful work.

Technology and analytics How Gen Z Uses Gen AI—and Why It Worries Them by Benjamin Lira , Dunigan Folk , Lyle Ungar and Angela L. Duckworth January 28, 2026 Fajrul Islam/Getty Images Post Post Share Save Get PDF Buy Copies Print Summary . When it comes to gen AI, the habits, attitudes, and ideas of Gen Z are a harbinger of the future of work—and how the rest of us will feel when we get there. A survey of nearly 2,500 U.S. ... more Leer en español Ler em português Post Post Share Save Get PDF Buy Copies Print As go the young, so goes society. Young adults were early adopters of cell phones , so

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