Although millennials are somewhat wary of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and tread its path with caution, Gen Z – classified as those born between 1996 and 2010 – seem to perceive it more in a positive light. For them (Gen Z), AI has much to offer and if used with (oh, the irony!) intelligence, it can guide you down a shorter road to efficiency both in education and work.
Gen Zs have been dubbed AI ‘super users’ and ZDNet says only this generation is using AI to its full potential. There’s a reason for this; they are far more technologically competent than their predecessors, the millennials. However, the numbers may vary on this, although I myself believe I am a Luddite within reason. A survey by Salesforce showed that 70% of Gen Z used AI technology as it helps them in their tasks and in the decision-making process.
Given that Gen Z is the generation that was born and grew up alongside the massive advancements in technology, it seems justified that they are the most competent in its use. However, experts also say that Gen Z should not be deprived of their thunder in mastering AI technology because a great number of this generation was also affected by the pandemic and have been faced with challenges in ways that no other generation has. Many of them were deprived of the opportunity to enter the world of work in the conventional way and have instead, had to begin working from home. This has affected the way their skills have been honed, although because they are more conversant in technology, this may help them get ahead in other aspects of the world of work and education.
James Gray, an undergraduate at the Australian National University Actuarial Studies and Statistics agrees. While acknowledging that he is by no means the spokesperson for the entire Gen Z he says, “More than anything, AI saves students time. A student who understands the material will be able to use it more efficiently than one who doesn’t. Using AI as a learning companion is one of the best ways to use it. Large language models like ChatGPT learn in a very similar way to the human mind, and as such, provide useful patterns and connections in material that can help students better pick up and retain knowledge.”
AI in practice
Identity Lab says that Gen Z sees technology as very much a part of who they are and as such, they would like to see AI integrated into their learning and work. Since these youngsters are almost always online and connect with each other digitally, they thrive on new means of work that are made possible by handling AI with prudence. As with any technology, AI is as only good as the person who is using it. So, it makes sense that in the hands of the tech-savvy Gen Z, AI works wonders.
WP Engine and the Center for Generational Kinetics say that most Gen Zs (about 80%) believe that websites and software will integrate AI into their operations in the years to come. And they are ready for this. They know that areas such as content creation, image generation, coding, research, and so on will be carried out by AI. While Gen Z knows the efficacies of AI, they also know its limitations and are able to work around it to explore its potential in the most productive manner. For instance, young writers who use AI know that it is based on predictive text and are able to read through content generated by various AI tools and wean out ideas that are convoluted and finetune them to better suit their audience. In short, while AI can present ideas human beings still have to read through, edit and make it reader-worthy. This is something that potential employers also need to understand- that AI might be considered able to carry out specialized jobs but that quality in these jobs can only still be guaranteed by the presence of a human being who will oversee it.
This can also be an answer to those who question the possibility of AI making certain jobs redundant in the future. The debate on this is ongoing, but Gen Z sees this as inevitable for the most part. Gray says, “Much like advancements in the printing press, AI is sure to take out new jobs. As a student studying Actuarial Studies, I am aware of a history where we were placed in the back of an office to do tedious calculations for insurance companies that no one else was willing to do. In today’s age, with the advent of Excel and other software, more and more actuaries have started to take management positions.” In his view, AI will allow this shift to happen by carrying out tasks that have always been tedious but also allow for more human advancement, as a result. He says “Jobs will become more human-centric and will create opportunities for people to wear many hats and take a less streamlined approach to their careers.”
The ethics
Some believe that Gen Z will also be instrumental in designing ethical practices when using AI. The idea that this generation that is driven by values will ensure that their use of AI will be done in an acceptable way that does not misuse and abuse such tools- a criticism that has been levelled against the technology- is now being discussed. However, this is on the part of how Gen Z uses this technology.
On the other hand, the question remains as to whether Gen Z shares concerns about the ethics of AI and whether these will also gather data and information about individual users online. Gray says, “Many people in Gen Z aren’t concerned with the ethics of AI as we have our entire lives on social media. We have become numb to the sense that we are being surveilled by these apps and that data is being collected. This numbness means that many of us don’t mind how the data is used or whether it is ethical or not except a select few.”
Making the right choices
It all comes down to this, on the part of educators, learners, employers, and employees; we all need to make the right choices with any technology, especially AI. The more dependent on it we become, the more we lose our ability to hone specific skills that are now taken over by AI. It may be easier to hand over those ‘tedious’ tasks to a machine, but when the machine malfunctions one day, can we still manage to do without it?
(Anouk De Silva)