More hands-on gen AI experience increases optimism—and caution—for millennials and Gen Z
Younger workers around the world remain wary of generative AI’s impact, according to an expansive, new survey from Deloitte Global
As new generative-AI-enabled tools and use cases emerge, organizations are racing to harness the opportunities. But do workers—and younger workers, in particular—view these opportunities as potential benefits or potential threats?
According to Deloitte’s 2024 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, which included more than 22,800 respondents in 44 countries, uncertainty is still the top emotion for both Gen Zs and millennials when it comes to generative AI. Many young workers surveyed are not yet using gen AI at work: 27% of Gen Zs and 34% of millennials say they never use gen AI at work, while another 42% of Gen Zs and 38% of millennials say they rarely or sometimes do. But among the roughly 25% who use gen AI at work all or most of the time, there is both a stronger sense of optimism and a stronger acknowledgement of the risks.
The majority of Gen Z and millennial respondents who frequently use gen AI are more likely to believe it will free up their time, improve the way they work, and improve their work/life balance. But respondents who frequently use gen AI also are more likely to believe that gen-AI-driven automation will eliminate jobs and make it more difficult for younger generations to enter the workforce—potentially because the technology may automate many of the more manual tasks that entry-level workers typically do.
However, as with other technologies, familiarity breeds comfort, according to the survey responses, and there’s an opportunity for organizations to make workers more familiar with generative AI through training. Approximately half of respondents (51% of Gen Zs and 45% of millennials) say their employer is training workers on the capabilities, benefits, and value of gen AI, so many organizations still have an opportunity to create a more positive outlook by providing workers with the kind of training they need to be successful in an AI-fueled environment.
Read the full report at www.deloitte.com/gen-z-millennial-survey.