Many Gen Zers have embraced AI in the name of career advancement

While many workers are still grappling with how to use AI, the kids have seemingly embraced it.

The number of high school and college students and recent graduates who said they don’t use AI tools dropped from 36% in 2024 to 6% this year, according to a recent report from the National Society of High School Scholars. The respondents include students who graduated or will graduate high school between 2019 and 2028.

Nearly half (49%) of respondents said they use AI on a daily or weekly basis, but they’re also aware of the societal and environmental risks associated with increased AI use. The majority (69%) believe AI as “a more negative than positive” societal impact, a jump from 59% in 2024.

“There’s been a significant change in the use of AI, going from something that really wasn’t useful or helpful to something that is very meaningful,” James Lewis, NSHSS’s president, told HR Brew. “It was a significant change in the students’ behavior as a tool for them to succeed in their academic lives.”

Gen Zers are digital natives and Gen Alphas are AI natives, so these generations, Lewis said, are not only more adept with technology, but also more open to using it to advance their careers.

“Anyone with the phone could respond in a very intelligent way to a meaningful question and provide solutions to whatever problems they’re facing,” he said. “It’s really a great tool that, in the right hands, could help people really achieve their personal and professional goals.”