Gen Z workers least likely to use AI in the workplace as job loss fears grow

They grew up with tech at their fingertips — but Gen Z workers are steering clear of AI at work, amid rising fears it could cost them their jobs. Here’s what experts have to say.

Young Aussies, long seen as digital natives, are the least likely to use artificial intelligence at work — with many fearing it could cost them their jobs.

Exclusive research reveals 45 per cent of Gen Z workers don’t use AI in the workplace at all – more than any other age group, including Baby Boomers.

Gen Zs are also the most likely to fear the impact of AI on jobs, with 35 per cent believing it will put their role at risk.

Across the workforce, more than half of Australians describe their AI skills as weak or non-existent, while a quarter admit using the technology feels like cheating, according to research from collaborative platform Miro.

Nearly one in four workers exaggerate their AI abilities on the job — but almost a third actually downplay how much they use it, the research also found.

Young Aussies, long seen as digital natives, are the least likely to use artificial intelligence at work — with many fearing it could cost them their jobs.

Hesitancy amongst youth

Miro chief product and technology officer Jeff Chow said the research shows many workers are still struggling to find their footing when it comes to AI.

However, the findings weren’t entirely surprising, he added, as Gen Z workers are still early in their careers and often unsure when it’s appropriate to use AI.

“Workers who are more experienced – Gen X, Millennials, etc – are more likely to appreciate the value of AI tools that remove repetitive, rote tasks from their daily work and which enable them to get to strategic, higher-value work more quickly,’’ he said.

“Gen Z workers don’t have this context that experience brings.’’

Gen Z worker Mervin Laureano said he was initially apprehensive about using AI in his role as a law clerk with Brennan Law Partners – not because he wasn’t tech savvy but because he didn’t know when it was appropriate to use.

When senior members of the law firm encouraged Mr Laureano to take advantage of AI, he very quickly got on board.

“As a junior, I didn’t want to overstep any boundaries or any rules, given I didn’t have much experience in the job,’’ he said.

“Now, I use it to look up a case or it will refer me to a (similar) case (to the one I am working on).

“It cuts a lot of the time that I used to spend getting familiar with a topic.

“I’m still doing the thinking and reading myself but it helps to give context and it cuts out the time looking for resources.’’

Gen Z worker Mervin Laureano said he was initially apprehensive about using AI in his role as a law clerk with Brennan Law Partners.

Trial and error

Workplace psychologist Amanda Gordon, from job site Indeed, agreed the reluctance of young Australians to embrace AI at work stems more from uncertainty about when it’s acceptable than from a lack of skills.

She said most workers underestimated their proficiency in AI but encouraged those wanting to improve their skills to learn through trial and error.

“Get in there and have a go,’’ Ms Gordon said.

“People are flummoxed because they see AI as this special thing rather than it underpinning everything we do.

“When you’re searching Google, you’re using AI. When I come to work on public transport and I look in real time to see when my bus will be there – that’s AI.

“Anytime you use a computer at all, you’re going to find you are using AI.’’

Ms Gordon advised workers to have open conversations with their manager about when it was appropriate to use AI and what tasks could be performed better with it.

But she warned the technology could generate misinformation and said the data it produced should be checked to make sure it was factual and from verified sources.

Using AI responsibly

Contrary to the Miro research, Dynamic Leadership Programs Australia managing director Karlie Cremin said it was often older workers, not Gen Zs, who were hesitant to use AI.

She said executive and management-level employees were most reluctant due to concerns around data privacy, cyber security and compliance with privacy legislation.

“The real challenge isn’t reluctance to use AI, it’s ensuring people understand how to use it responsibly and add value to what AI produces,’’ she said.

“What we’re seeing is that younger workers, who are accustomed to sharing information in public digital spaces, need education about which data can safely be shared and which is confidential.’’

Rather than eliminating jobs, Ms Cremin said AI would help workers perform their role better and should not be seen as cheating.

“These days, it’s generally understood that if you’re not using AI effectively, you’re at a disadvantage,’’ she said.

“(But) if people are blindly on AI, that’s not innovation – it’s cognitive laziness.

“We still need to train (workers in) critical thinking and encourage people to ask, ‘How can this tool help me do my job better?’ rather than ‘How can it do my job for me?’’’

Executive and management-level employees were most reluctant due to concerns around data privacy, cyber security and compliance with privacy legislation.

AI AT WORK

• 52 per cent of workers describe their AI skills as weak or non-existent and lack the time and resources to learn how to fully leverage it
• 45 per cent of Gen Zs don’t use AI at all, compared to 44 per cent of Baby Boomers, 39 per cent of Gen Xers and 35 per cent of Millennials
• 24 per cent of all workers exaggerate their AI abilities at work, while 31 per cent downplay their usage
• 25 per cent of workers say using AI feels like cheating
• 67 per cent of workers plan to develop more AI skills this year

Source: Miro.

Originally published as Gen Z workers least likely to use AI in the workplace as job loss fears grow