Friend, Foe or Frenemy? Gen Z Is Both Hopeful and Hesitant About the Potential Impact of AI On Their Future

Artificial intelligence has long been shrouded in a seemingly unsolvable paradox of fear and excitement, from the terrifying potential that AI could become more intelligent than humans to the incredible prospect of this modern tech making our lives more efficient and effective than we could ever have dreamed.

As innovation in AI continues to progress and the world (along with regulators) scrambles to keep up with it, this conundrum, rather than being placated, is only becoming increasingly intense. And, while both experts and lay folk are taking part in the discussion, it’s the opinion of children that is taking us most by surprise.

In hindsight, of course the thoughts of today’s youngsters – Gen Z, aged between 13 and 27, so not even that young – are of the utmost importance. While it may be older people who currently fill senior professional roles and, in theory, have more experience in changing tech (hello, Y2K), it’s Gen Z (and Generation Alpha) whose lives are really going to be the most impacted in the long term.

But, has anyone bothered to ask them what they think?

Well, Yugo has, and the response they received from over 7,000 students across the globe (within Yugo’s orgbit) is pretty interesting. Put crudely, the kids (read, “youths!” in the iconic voice of “New Girl’s” Schmidt – obligatory millennial reference) are both apprehensive and optimistic about how AI will affect their lives. But, they’re mostly scared that AI will result in their having lower job prospects as they enter the workforce.

Enter Gen Z: Why Does Their Opinion Matter?

Other than the obvious age discrepancy, the biggest difference between Millennials, Gen X and Boomers, on the one hand, and Gen Z, on the other, is that the former grew up in a world with fairly limited technology, while Gen Z has been up to their eyeballs in iPhones, hoverboards and virtual assistants pretty much since birth.

And, before anybody panics about the wild and reckless grouping of Millennials, Gen X and Boomers into one category, the point is that while each generation has experienced various levels of tech throughout their childhoods and adult lives, their collective experience still stands in massive contrast to Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

For instance, mobile phones may have been a life-changing innovation for Gen X and Boomers who experienced them for the first time as mature adults, while millennials began using them earlier, in their adolescence and 20s, what they have in common is that this kind of tech wasn’t around when they were young children. They were only introduced later.

Meanwhile, Gen X has never known a world without smartphones and Google Maps, and they’ll never recognise the nostalgic sound of dial-up internet.

So, not only is Gen Z going to be far more affected by AI in the long run, but their opinion is, by nature of their age and relative experience, going to be completely different to that of older generations.

With that in mind, let’s get into the thick of it.

What Does the Future Generation Think of AI?

Yugo’s study of 7,000 students across nine different countries, in summary, that:

• 44% of UK students are excited and optimistic about the opportunities that AI tech presents, especially in sectors including education, health and even the management of climate change.
• 78% of UK students asserted that they’re actively concerned about the impact AI will have on their job prospects in the future
• 56% of UK students are scared that if AI tech progresses along its current trajectory, human intelligence will, unavoidably, decline.

Clearly, youngsters are just as conflicted about AI as everybody else – they’re excited and they’re nervous. They understand and appreciate how it will contribute positively to their lives (and in so many ways, already has – especially in education), but they’re also very cautious of the weight and power its given going forward.

Indeed, according to Joe Persechino, Chief Operating Officer at Yugo, this report “reveals much excitement about the potential of AI, particularly in education, healthcare and technology. But there is clear concern about its threat to students’ job prospects”.

And these fears simply can’t be ignored.

So, Will the Kids Be Alright?

Here’s what Persechino told us when asked whether or not it’s possible to find a balance between the benefits and dangers of AI for the youth.

“Absolutely. We’re already seeing many students striking this balance. For example, many are tackling their fears about AI impacting job opportunities head on – by familiarising themselves with the technology to get one step ahead. Our survey findings show that many are even using AI to create CVs and elevate their job applications, embracing the fact that AI literacy is not only convenient, but a skill many employers are looking for.

Students are clearly willing to work with this technology rather than against it, taking the
benefits that come their way. Ultimately, we should shape our use of AI to our advantage, namely, using it to carry out less value-added tasks and allow for more creative ideation. This will lead to new job types
emerging, which require human interaction and skillsets.”

Ultimately, it’s going to be about finding the balance – using AI to make our lives easier and improve overall processes rather than replacing humans altogether.

The best way to prepare for this, from the perspective of young people, is to upskill themselves as much as possible. Learn about AI, figure out how it is and can be used in their industry and find ways to use it to improve things. The future is going to be about a mutualistic relationship between humans and AI, so it’s time to embrace it.