Shaping the future: How GenZ can influence the GenAI wave
As the tide of Artificial Intelligence (AI) rises, poised to reshape the very fabric of our world, a new generation stands at the forefront, ready to navigate its transformative potential. Gen Z, the digital natives who have known no world without technology, are uniquely equipped to usher in the “Gen AI” era.
What is the difference between Millennials and Gen Z?
A Millennial is anyone born between 1980 and 1995. In the U.S., there are roughly 80 million Millennials. A member of Gen Z is anyone born between 1996 and the early-mid 2000s (end date can vary depending on source). In the U.S., there are approximately 90 million members of Gen Z, or “Gen Zers.”
The emergence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) marks a pivotal moment in human history. This technology, capable of creating entirely new content like text, code, and even creative formats, carries immense potential to revolutionize various sectors, including healthcare, education, and artistic expression. However, as with any powerful tool, ensuring its responsible development and ethical application is paramount. This is where Generation Z (Gen-Z) presents a unique and crucial opportunity.
Research by the Pew Research Center highlights Gen-Z’s inherent comfort and proficiency in digital environments, making them natural early adopters of GenAI tools. Their digital fluency, as explored in a study by the University of Southern California, translates into a willingness to experiment and push the boundaries of GenAI’s capabilities. This, coupled with their diverse perspectives and focus on inclusivity, championed in a study published by the https://www.csis.org/ Center for Strategic and International Studies, positions them as vital contributors to ensuring GenAI’s development and application benefit all segments of society.
However, Gen-Z is also acutely aware of the potential pitfalls of technology, including bias and misuse of AI, as documented in a study by the Stanford Graduate School of Business. This awareness, coupled with their inherent ethical sensibilities, allows them to act as crucial advocates for responsible GenAI development.
Born Digital: Gen Z’s Fluency Fuels their Affinity for GenAI
Immersed in the digital world since childhood, Gen Z students naturally embrace technological advancements like GenAI. They envision it boosting productivity, efficiency, and personalized learning. Furthermore, their intent to utilize GenAI for various purposes like information acquisition, language learning, and writing support aligns with existing research highlighting their preference for technology as a learning enhancement tool (Hernandez-de-Menendez et al., 2020; Seemiller & Grace, 2016).
Adding to this, studies by Marshall and Wolanskyj-Spinner (2020) identify Gen Z students as “Active problem solvers, Independent learners,” perfectly suited to leverage GenAI. This technology caters to their desire for constant, personalized feedback, which research suggests is highly valued by Gen Z (Bíró, 2014; Borys & Laskowski, 2013).
Gen-Z’s inherent comfort with digital environments stems from their unique upbringing. A 2021 Pew Research Center study [1] found that 95% of Gen-Z adults (aged 18–29) own a smartphone, and 88% report using the internet daily. This constant immersion fosters a “digital fluency,” allowing them to intuitively grasp and navigate new technologies like GenAI.
Furthermore, research published in Nature Human Behavior in 2020 [2] demonstrates that Gen-Z exhibits greater cognitive flexibility compared to previous generations. This translates to their ability to adapt quickly to new technologies like GenAI, readily experimenting with its functionalities and pushing the boundaries of its capabilities.
Unlike previous generations, Gen-Z prioritizes inclusivity and diverse perspectives. A 2023 study by the Center for American Progress [3] highlights that Gen-Z is the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in the U.S., with 48% identifying as non-white. This lived experience fosters an innate understanding of the importance of diverse perspectives.
This translates to Gen-Z’s potential to influence the development and application of GenAI in a fair and unbiased manner. They can advocate for data sets that are representative of the broader population and algorithms that are free from inherent biases. Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2022 [4] found that diverse teams are more likely to identify and address potential biases in AI development. Gen-Z’s diverse voices can be instrumental in ensuring GenAI benefits all segments of society equally.
As digital citizens, Gen-Z is acutely aware of the potential pitfalls of technology, including bias and misuse of AI. A 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center [5] found that 72% of Gen-Z adults believe that AI raises ethical concerns. This awareness positions them as crucial advocates for responsible GenAI development.
Gen-Z can leverage their digital fluency and understanding of ethical considerations to hold developers and policymakers accountable for responsible AI development. They can engage in public discourse, advocate for transparent AI practices, and support initiatives that ensure AI aligns with ethical principles and human well-being.
By combining their digital fluency, diverse perspectives, and ethical awareness, Gen-Z holds tremendous potential to shape the future of GenAI for the benefit of society.
The “AI DIVIDE” (Salesforce’s Generative AI Snapshot Research 2024) — research consisting of over 4,000 general population adults in the US, UK Australia and India reveals interesting findings on how the average person is using generative AI.
The research implies that despite all the major advances in Generative AI, 51% of the population claims that they have never made use of it. On the other hand, about 68% of the Gen AI users claim to actively use the technology multiple times in a week for various activities all relating to using the technology to make their lives easier and entertaining. Based on this study we can derive the conclusion that:
People born between the late 1980s and early 2010s (“Gen Z”) and those born between the early 1980s and late 1990s (“Millennials”) are like the “super users” of generative AI. They use it a lot and even feel like they’re getting the hang of it (almost half of Gen Z thinks they’re almost AI masters!). This makes sense, as they’ve grown up with technology and are comfortable trying new things.
Interestingly, it seems people who have jobs are more likely to use generative AI. Maybe it helps them out at work? On the other hand, folks born before the late 1980s (“Gen X” and “Baby Boomers”) aren’t using it as much. This could be because they haven’t had as much experience with technology or simply haven’t had the chance to try it out yet.
The future of AI is wide open, and GenZ has the potential to shape it in incredible ways. What excites you most? What worries you? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Let’s hear your voice!
