Gen Z believes using AI is making their colleagues dumb and lazy—but may paradoxically see it as key to their own promotion, Wharton says

Wharton researchers have found that Gen Z employees believe using AI makes their colleagues less diligent, yet Gen Z themselves may view AI as crucial to their own career advancement. The study, conducted by Wharton in partnership with Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation, surveyed nearly 2,500 U.S. adults aged 18-28. Despite 79% of respondents believing AI makes people lazier and 62% expressing concerns that AI reduces intelligence, the survey revealed a paradoxical trend: Gen Z's AI usage has increased.

Pew Research Center data shows 66% of people aged 18-29 have used an AI chatbot, up from 55% in 2024, and 37% of young adults believe AI's impact over the next 20 years will be negative. This conflicting attitude towards AI highlights the complex feelings Gen Z has toward the technology. While nearly 20% of Gen Z worry AI may displace them from their jobs, they are the most enthusiastic adopters of AI in the workplace.

The authors suggest that young people's preference for immediate rewards over long-term gains contributes to their ambivalent stance on AI. Gen Z's tendency to believe they are above average in their AI abilities, known as the better-than-average effect, may also play a role in their positive view of AI usage. To best integrate AI into the workplace, the researchers recommend embracing ambivalence towards the technology rather than outright banning it.

Employers should encourage the outsourcing of routine tasks to AI, allowing employees to focus on more complex, value-added work. This approach could help mitigate concerns about AI's impact on critical thinking skills while still harnessing the benefits of AI adoption.