A new survey reveals that Gen Z employees are not only embracing AI more than their older peers, but they’re actively teaching themselves how to use it.
Yet despite their enthusiasm and self-sufficiency, nearly half (49%) say their managers don’t fully understand AI’s potential, according to newly released research from workforce management giant UKG. The study, conducted by The Harris Poll, across the US reveals a powerful trend – employees across all age groups want AI to step in and simplify their daily grind, but it’s Gen Z (ages 18-28) who are the most prepared to make it happen.
“Every few decades, breakthrough technology fundamentally changes the way we do everything: from how we live, to the way we work, and beyond,” said Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at UKG. “Like those innovations, AI is quickly becoming ubiquitous and indispensable to work – and ignoring it now is like choosing not to use a computer or the internet.”
AI ANXIETY
Despite anxiety in some quarters about AI replacing jobs, the survey paints a different picture. A stunning 84% of US employees say they want AI to handle workplace processes — not to take their jobs, but to free up time for more meaningful, strategic work.
In fact, 79% believe that AI tools could help them focus on “more important or rewarding parts” of their jobs. Among Gen Z employees, that optimism is even higher. A remarkable 90% believe AI will save them time at work, with nearly a third (29%) expecting to reclaim an hour or more each day through automation.
“Gen Z may be on the leading edge of AI adoption in the workplace, but this technology has the power to transform work for every generation,” Vittal noted. “From simplifying and automating everyday tasks to increasing productivity to unlocking more time for creativity, innovation, and personal connection, AI will reshape the employee experience in the years ahead.”
GENERATIONAL DIVIDE
One of the starkest findings? 70% of Gen Z workers say they’ve taught themselves most of the AI tools they use at work, compared to just 58% of Gen X and 40% of Boomers. This self-reliant approach signals not just an enthusiasm for AI, but an intuitive understanding of how to apply it in practical ways; an insight that many executives may still be struggling to grasp.
In UKG’s 2023 study, only 26% of C-suite leaders believed Gen Z had the best grasp on workplace AI. The new findings suggest that may have been a miscalculation and hint at a disconnect between front-line innovation and top-down strategy.
AI-READY TASKS
While Gen Z is the most eager, employees across generations are aligned in how they want to see AI used. The majority – 89% – agree that AI should be viewed as a tool, not a co-worker. In other words, augmentation, not automation.
Employees are most comfortable outsourcing repetitive, data-heavy, or error-prone tasks to AI, rather than high-stakes decision-making or creative work. The most AI-ready tasks include:
- Summarizing company policies (83%)
- Creating employee schedules (81%)
- Verifying paychecks (78%)
- Timecard accuracy checks (78%)
- Real-time time-off and shift-swap approvals (74%)
“Since our 2023 study, we’ve seen a meaningful shift in employees’ trust in and understanding of AI at work,” Vittal explained. “Just two years ago, over half of employees had ‘no idea’ how their organization was using AI. Today, about 2 in 5 employed Americans (39%) are hopeful about how it can improve their role.”
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The takeaway for business leaders? Gen Z isn’t just ready for AI — they’re already running with it. And companies that tap into this momentum can leapfrog ahead in productivity, engagement, and retention.
From small firms to global enterprises, the sentiment is consistent: AI is best used to automate tasks, not replace people. This belief spans business sizes – from 88% of employees at companies with fewer than 75 workers, to 85% at organisations with more than 15,000.
“The sooner organisations act on AI’s potential,” said Vittal, “the greater competitive advantage they’ll gain.” In a world where speed, innovation, and adaptability are paramount, listening to the youngest voices in the room might just be the smartest move a CEO can make.
RELATED ARTICLES
Chief executives around the world expect the growth rate of artificial intelligence (AI) investments to more than double in the next two years, according to a new survey.
Organisations embracing artificial intelligence (AI) and investing in workforce upskilling are seeing dramatic productivity gains of over 30%, reveals report.
A new study has confirmed the growing adoption of AI across industries, but also highlights a lack of responsible AI practices.
Top business concerns for 2025: Trade wars, recession and AI.
Sign up for our newsletter
