Gen Z Voices is a new series exploring the Gen Z perspective on marketing, technology, social media and the future of the ad industry. Submit your essays here.

For some, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace may invite images of impersonal interactions and job displacement. But for much of Gen Z, the youngest entrants to the workforce, AI is met with enthusiastic curiosity rather than trepidation. We're not viewing AI only as an exciting, transformative force, but also recognizing its potential as an equalizer and form of job security in an ever-evolving digital landscape. 

That’s not to say that Gen Z is blind to some of the valid concerns around the technology. In fact, many young people are leading conversations around issues such as the role of bias in AI training, the ownership of art and writing styles in generated content and the ethics of AI-generated deep fakes and scams.

But as is often the case, the next generation has a nuanced, balanced perspective around this emerging technology. We’re optimistic about the power of AI to advance our careers, boost creative potential and even contribute to a more equal workforce. With that hopefulness in mind, here are five ways Gen Z is embracing the use of AI in their careers:  

Going from thought partner to BFF 

“Thought partner” has been thrown around as a buzz-phrase by tech enthusiasts to describe an ethical relationship with AI in the workplace. To use AI as a thought partner means to train the technology as your built-in collaborator without outsourcing your work entirely. As digital natives, Gen Z is similarly embracing AI in the same way young workers have historically leaned on their workplace BFF. A trusted peer in the form of a colleague has long given early professionals an outlet for gut checking their work, tossing raw ideas around or explaining industry concepts they haven’t yet encountered in their professional experience. Now with the rise of AI chatbots, Gen Z has a built-in work BFF—a particularly crucial role as many are starting their careers remotely.  

Harnessing the AI toolbelt 

Gen Z’s tech-savvy isn’t confined to mainstream social media platforms. Young professionals are pushing boundaries in the workplace by exploring and integrating AI tools into various daily tasks. We’re employing platforms such as Next Atlas Gen to uncover client-relevant cultural trends in real time. We’re implementing editing tools including Runway AI and Eleven Labs to turbocharge content creation on platforms such as TikTok. And we’re experimenting with image generators such as Midjourney to level-up presentations and uncover the visual biases of the masses. Eventually the use of AI tools in daily tasks will become the standard. But Gen Z stands to lead the charge in experimentation as digital natives. 

Democratizing opportunities with AI 

Gen Z is passionate about using AI to create more equitable, inclusive professional spaces. We’re employing AI to democratize resources and level the playing field—with tools such as ChatGPT and ES.AI helping students and young job applicants elevate their resumes, prepare for job interviews and even discover emerging career paths. And we’re optimistic about the power of AI to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, with tools including Seeing AI allowing those with visual impairments to experience the world around them through AI-generated descriptions. For us, ethical use of AI means harnessing it to break down barriers and create a more equitable world. 

Championing human-led creativity 

Despite enthusiasm for AI, the technology is also reinforcing the irreplaceable value of human expertise for Gen Z. As we ride the wave of AI-driven content creation, Gen Z is advocating for the importance of human-led journalism to avoid the trap of an AI feedback loop—where AI, left unchecked and trained on output from AI itself, could lead to misinformation and limit creativity. Even in its current state, Gen Z is keenly aware of AI’s creative limitations. While great for brainstorming exercises and editing services, AI-generated content often feels dry or unoriginal on its own. Through use of the tools currently available, AI has made it clear to Gen Z that their creativity is still valuable and essential in the world. 

Embracing job security in AI mastery 

While some may view AI as a job threat, much of Gen Z is embracing the technology as a ticket to job security. By harnessing AI, we're developing an essential skill set for the future. Instead of being replaced by AI, we're carving out new roles and pathways in an AI-integrated world. We're using AI to enhance our strengths, overcome limitations and ultimately secure our place in the future of work.  

While still aware of the need for regulation and quality improvements in the space, much of Gen Z is shedding fear to see AI not as a replacement, but as a collaborator, a tool for equity and a promise of job security in a tech-driven future. This nuanced understanding of AI, as both an efficiency driver and creativity enhancer, reflects our balanced perspective toward machine intelligence.