Artificial intelligence or inflated illusion? Why 62% of Gen Z are not buying the AI dream
Artificial Intelligence, often sobriqueted as a magic wand in the tech world and a saviour technology, is facing an identity crisis. Long billed as the crown jewel of 21st-century innovation, its shine is waning, especially among Generation Z.
The generation known for growing up on screens and swiping through knowledge is now casting a skeptical eye on the current, emerging definition of the "future of work." According to GoTo's Pulse of Work 2025 report, 62% of Gen Z workers believe AI is significantly overhyped. That's not a passing complaint, it's a cultural reckoning.
In an age where tech solutions are expected to be both omnipresent and omnipotent, AI's reality hasn't lived up to its relentless publicity.
But why is the so-called "AI native" generation, who feeds excessively on a digital diet, crying wolf on AI? The answer resides not in ignorance, but in critical scrutiny.
Gen Z is not anti-tech, they're anti-hype
Is Generation Z, the most tech-prowess generation apprehensive of the potential of Artificial Intelligence? No. As the headlines have often dominated and well-labelled the current generation to be the most rebellious, continuously challenging the status quo.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah?
IC Markets
Mendaftar
Undo
It is slightly unbelievable on their part to be afraid of a technology that helps them become more productive.
T
his generation has seen the full lifecycle of tech trends, from meteoric rises to embarrassing crashes. From the crypto bubble to the metaverse misfires, Gen Z has learned that not all that glitters in tech is gold. So when it comes to AI, they're not mesmerized by the buzz, they're asking the hard questions.
Is AI error-free? Not quite.
Does it understand context? Rarely.
Can it replace human empathy or judgment? Certainly not.
And so, instead of blindly keeping machines over humans, Gen Z workers are taking a beat. They are cross-checking AI results, validating claims, and challenging assumptions. It is this instinct to 'trust, but verify' that is demarcating them from older generations who may view AI as a turnkey solution.
According to the GoTo report, 68% of workers believe AI is misrepresented as flawless and infallible, while 64% say it's wrongly touted as a one-size-fits-all fix. Gen Z is not falling into the trap. They have learnt it better not to place blind faith in an algorithm with a knowledge cutoff and no conscience.
AI isn't delivering on the ground
With all of the AI talking, there is another interesting revelation in the report. And, here's the catch: 86% of employees across generations admit they're not using AI to its full potential, with Gen Z clocking in at a surprising 78%.
The reasons are as compelling as troubling.
For freshers, 74% of Gen Z workers have agreed they are not very conversant with the practical applications of AI in their own roles. While they know how to generate content using ChatGPT or automate a workflow with Zapier, they grapple to marry these tools to measurable business outcomes. Many are simply utilising AI for surface-level tasks, like, emails, edits, maybe a bit of ideation, but for not for high-impact work like strategic planning or analytical decision-making.
So yes, the toolbox is there. Is it gathering dust? Not literally. However, as the saying goes, "having the keys to the kingdom means nothing if you don't know which door to open.'
Underutilization: A missed opportunity worth trillions
The cost of this underutilization is staggering. According to GoTo, employees waste 2.6 hours per day—13 hours per week—on tasks AI could easily handle, amounting to a potential $2.9 trillion in annual productivity gains for U.S. businesses alone.
That's not just a dent in efficiency, it's a canyon-sized crater.
Yet, even with a different picture that is presented, the Generation Z remains unconvinced. It is not the fact that they are treating AI as the scapegoat. However, they are not absolutely fanatical about its potential. The reason? They are weighing AI by not its theoretical promises but its practica traction. According to them, the reality meeting the hype is a far cry.
Why Gen Z isn't putting AI to work (yet)
The Generation that is often labelled as 'lazy' and unwilling to work is apprehensive of putting AI to work. Is this an ingrained psyche, or does the stance carry weight? Here are a few reasons that substantiate the reason young workforce is not trusting the bots.
Lack of contextual training
Even the most intuitive AI tool is only as effective as the person operating it. The report reveals that 82% of employees aren't confident in applying AI to everyday work scenarios, and 87% say they haven't received proper training.
Yes, Generation Z is tech prowess but it is a false belief that they do not need training. They need guidance, not just to access, but to make AI work for them.
Trust deficit
While AI is the talk of the town, its famous anecdotes of inaccuracy and errors is not completely unheard of. Hence, 86% of employees aren't confident in the accuracy and reliability of AI tools.
Gen Z, in particular, has seen AI hallucinate answers, spread misinformation, and struggle with nuance.
They'd rather do the legwork themselves than gamble on flawed outputs.
Misaligned use cases
AI has taken birth to automate repetitive tasks, many Gen Z users are experimenting with it in emotionally sensitive or ethically grey areas, like conflict resolution or strategic planning where it is deemed to falter. This mismatch further reinforces their belief that AI is not all it is cracked up to be.
Bridging the chasm: Turning skepticism into strategy
The ordeal is not that Gen Z doesn't believe in AI; it is that they are screaming no to using it blindly.
With the apprehension of AI replacing humans floating around, they know it is a shallow stance. And perhaps, that is a clarion call for the corporate world.
To unlock AI's full potential, companies must meet Gen Z where they are:
Provide targeted training that's tailored to roles, not generic toolkits.
Craft smart policies that offer clarity, not just control.
Democratize access to advanced tools, especially in smaller organizations where the adoption gap is steep.
With 61% of workers stating they'd prefer advanced AI tools over office perks, the message is clear: If companies want buy-in, they need to invest not just in tech, but in trust, training, and transparency.
A generation that demands more than hype
Gen Z's skepticism is not a roadblock; it is a much-needed reality check. As the first generation to truly grow up alongside technology, they are uniquely positioned to ask the right questions: What does this tool actually solve? And at what cost? Their critical lens is not an indictment of technology, but a call to use it wisely.
Rather than clapping for every algorithmic advance, these digital natives are urging both technologists and employers to ensure that AI is transparent, trustworthy, and truly transformative. They are not shrugging off the presence or even potential of AI, they are raising the bar for it.
In an era rushing headlong toward automation, Gen Z is not slamming the brakes. They are simply steering us toward a more thoughtful, human-centered future, where intelligence, artificial or otherwise, is held to account.
Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
38 minutes ago
- Hans India
Reid Hoffman Downplays AI Job Loss Fears, Urges Focus on Human-AI Collaboration
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman has pushed back against growing anxiety over artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on employment, especially among white-collar workers. In a recent conversation sparked by comments from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Hoffman argued that while AI will indeed change the landscape of work, fears of an all-out "job bloodbath" are exaggerated. Amodei had earlier warned of AI driving a significant overhaul of white-collar jobs, raising concerns about the replacement of human roles. Hoffman, however, offered a more balanced perspective. 'Dario is right that over, call it, a decade or three, it will bring a massive set of job transformations. And some of that transformation will involve replacement issues,' he admitted. But he quickly clarified that this shift doesn't equate to widespread unemployment. 'Just because a function's coming that has a replacement area on a certain set of tasks doesn't mean all of this job's going to get replaced.' Hoffman pointed to historical parallels to support his view, citing the example of Microsoft Excel. When spreadsheet software was introduced, many feared it would render accountants obsolete. Instead, the field evolved. 'Everyone was predicting that the accountant job would go away. And actually, in fact, the accountant job got broader, richer,' he said. According to Hoffman, the future of work lies in symbiosis between humans and machines. He imagines a workplace where employees are empowered, not displaced, by AI tools such as GPT-4, Claude, and Microsoft Copilot. These technologies, he insists, should be used to enhance productivity, not eliminate human effort. 'Could I just replace, for example, my accountants with GPT-4? The answer is absolutely not. That would be a disastrous mistake,' Hoffman warned. Hoffman strongly cautioned against wholesale automation, particularly the idea of removing entire departments. 'Let's replace my marketing department or my sales department with GPT-4. Absolutely not,' he said. 'That's nowhere close to a bloodbath.' While Hoffman does acknowledge that some roles are at greater risk—especially those made up of repetitive or scripted tasks—he believes the potential for AI to replace such jobs has more to do with how businesses choose to deploy these technologies. 'What jobs are most likely to be replaced? They're the ones where we're trying to program human beings to act like robots,' he said. In conclusion, Hoffman remains optimistic about AI's role in the job market. Instead of viewing AI as a threat, he believes it should be seen as a powerful partner. 'Person plus AI doing things' is the model he champions — one where human judgment, creativity, and adaptability remain essential. As the debate around AI and jobs continues, Hoffman's call for cautious optimism and thoughtful implementation serves as a timely reminder: transformation does not have to mean elimination.
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
New feature makes dating more social and friend-friendly
Tinder Launches 'Double Date': The New Way to MakeConnections with Your Bestie Tinder has launched a new feature called 'Double Date', allowing users to pair up with a friend and match with other pairs. The update is aimed at making dating more social and less stressful by turning it into a group experience. The feature follows the success of the dating app's other social tools like 'Tinder Matchmaker' and 'Share My Date', which also involve friends and family in the dating process. With Double Date , users can now explore the app in a more relaxed and supportive way, alongside someone they trust. To use the new feature, users tap the feature icon and select up to three friends to form a pair. From there, they swipe through other duos. If either person in a pair likes another pair, and the feeling is mutual, a group chat is created to help start the conversation. Tinder tested the feature in several countries before launch. Results showed that nearly 90% of Double Date profiles came from users under 29, with Gen Z making up over half of Tinder's global user base. Women using the feature were three times more likely to like a pair than individual profiles, and users sent 35% more messages in 'Double Date' chats compared to one-on-one conversations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The new feature also brought in new and returning users. Around 15% of those who accepted a Double Date invitation were either new to the app or had recently reactivated their accounts. Tinder says the new feature aims to make dating more fun and collaborative, especially for younger users. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Shipping company Maersk temporarily pauses vessel calls at Israel's Haifa port
Container shipping company Maersk said on Friday it had temporarily paused vessel calls at Israel's Haifa port amid Israel-Iran tensions. The Danish company said it did not experience any further disruptions to its scheduled operations in the region. Israel has been hitting Iran from the air since last Friday in what it describes as an effort to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons . Iran has denied plans to develop such weapons and has retaliated by launching counterstrikes on Israel. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo On Thursday, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said it had launched combined missile and drone attacks at military and industrial sites linked to Israel's defence industry in Haifa and Tel Aviv .
