Pretty much all Gen Z knowledge workers are using AI, survey finds
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Twenty-something knowledge workers are pretty much all using generative AI tools, finds a survey out Monday from Google Workspace.
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.
- Think of any popular office tech — from email to Slack-type tools to collaborative document use — typically it's the youngest who got there first. We all follow.
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.
- 79% of millennials (28 - 39) said they used two or more of these tools a week.
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.
- 88% of Gen Z workers said they'd use AI to start a task that felt overwhelming.
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.
- A larger study of full-time workers — of all ages — out earlier this month found overall AI adoption is stalling out, with nearly half workers saying they weren't comfortable even admitting to using the technology.
- But younger workers are a bit more open about what they're doing, per Google's findings. 52% of those age 22-27 said they frequently discuss their use of AI tools with colleagues.
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.
- Down the line that could translate into both big productivity gains for the macro-economy — and potentially job loss.
