Saturday, September 23, 2023

 



Gen Z workers are freaking out about AI
Beatrice Nolan
Fri, September 22, 2023 

Expectations are high for Gen Zers to reap the benefits of AI.
Elizabeth Starkova/Getty Images

Employees have been finding creative ways to use AI at work.


Gen Zers, in particular, are expected to capitalize on this AI boom.


But the pressure of this expectation is causing concern for some workers.


AI is often heralded as the latest productivity hack at many workplaces.

Employees and bosses have been finding creative ways to leverage the technology to save time and boost output. Young workers are leading the charge — or at least expected to.

Gen Zers are being promoted as the most AI-literate generation and are well-positioned to capitalize on the technology. However, the pressure of this expectation is causing concern for some workers.

Data compiled by LinkedIn found that Gen Z workers were feeling overwhelmed and worried about falling behind when it came to AI.

In the recent study, which was based on 2,037 workers aged over 18, researchers found that 41% of Gen Zers said they'd pretended to know more about AI than they actually did. Only 18% of Gen X, for example, admitted to doing the same.

Gen Zers were also 10% more likely than the general population to have said they'd used an AI tool when they hadn't, the research found.

This behavior largely stemmed from young workers being concerned about their AI knowledge. The study found that 45% of Gen Zers are worried they should know more about AI than they do.

However, Gen Zers were also the most likely generation to have given some AI tools a go. The study found that 82% of Gen Z respondents said they'd tried using the technology at work. Only 38% of Gen X respondents said they'd done the same.

Charlotte Davies, group manager, consumer communications and career expert at LinkedIn, said, "Our research shows that nearly half of Gen-Z are feeling overwhelmed and are conscious of falling behind, with many admitting they say they know more than they do about AI, while others worry their colleagues are more clued up than they are."

"While it's understandable there are mixed feelings about AI, what is pertinent to note is that 92% of Gen-Z are excited to use AI in their role and they're eager to learn," she continued.

Davies added that young workers have had to deal with a significant amount of change over the past few years.

"They had to contend with the huge disruption caused by the pandemic and now a new era of AI is poised to mean further implications in our working lives," she said.

Many workers are also concerned that the technology could be a threat to jobs. Several workers have claimed their jobs have been outsourced to AI.

No comments:

Post a Comment