Survey Finds 40 Percent of Gen Z Workers Say They Cannot Function Without AI

A global workplace study conducted in partnership with GoTo and Workplace Intelligence found that 93 percent of Gen Z respondents said using AI has benefited them. Forty percent of the same group said they feel they cannot function without AI. Sixty-two percent said they rely too much on the technology.

Nearly half of Gen Z respondents, 46 percent, said depending too much on AI is eroding their skills and making them less intelligent. Fifty percent said they believe heavy AI reliance could hurt their career prospects over time. The study shows AI is used for tasks including drafting emails and workflow problem-solving.

Many Gen Z workers entered the workforce when these tools were already widely available.

HR consultant Bryan Driscoll said the most striking part of the statistics is that 40 percent of Gen Z feel they cannot function without AI. Driscoll added that AI raises the floor of competence but does not build a ceiling, noting that careers depend on judgment and the ability to navigate ambiguity.

He said companies that do not invest in developing junior talent may face a hollowed-out middle layer of workers fluent with tools but thin on judgment.