Learn how artificial intelligence is disrupting the career paths of Gen Z

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the world of work in unprecedented ways. AI is reshaping how businesses operate and compete, from automating tasks to creating new products and services. But how does this affect the youngest generation of workers, Gen Z, who are just entering the workforce or starting their careers?

Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, is the first truly digital generation, growing up with smartphones, social media, and online learning. They are also the most diverse, educated, and socially conscious generation in history. They have high career expectations, seeking meaningful work, flexibility, and opportunities to learn and grow.

However, Gen Z also faces many challenges in the workplace. They have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted their education, employment, and mental health. They needed to gain essential skills and experience from working alongside older colleagues. They have to compete with AI for entry-level jobs that are increasingly automated or outsourced. And they must adapt to the fast-changing demands and expectations of the AI-driven economy.

How can Gen Z overcome these challenges and leverage their strengths to succeed in the workplace? Here are some ways that AI could help Gen Z workers make up lost ground and thrive in their careers.

Embracing AI as a Tool for Optimization

One advantage of Gen Z over older generations is their native fluency with technology. They are confident using AI tools such as ChatGPT, OpenAI's powerful language model that can generate text for various purposes. They see AI as a way to optimize their work, not as a threat to replace them.

According to Stephanie Forrest, the founder of TFD, a London-based strategic communications consultancy in the tech space, Gen Z employees were the first to experiment with ChatGPT for tasks such as admin, research, and email composition. "They don't question [the technology] – they simply see it as a way to optimize what they are already doing," she says.

By embracing AI as a tool for optimization, Gen Z workers can enhance their productivity, creativity, and efficiency. They can also free up time and energy for more complex and strategic tasks that require human judgment, empathy, and collaboration.

Learning AI Skills as a Strategic Career Move

Another way that Gen Z can benefit from AI is by learning AI skills that are in high demand in the workplace. According to Professor Weiguo (Patrick) Fan at the University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business, US, many young people prioritize learning these skills as a "strategic career move," whether experimenting in their personal lives, taking online courses, or pursuing traditional educational avenues.

AI skills can help Gen Z workers innovate and streamline processes, bridge the gap between technical and non-technical roles, and contribute to business outcomes. For example, Gen Z workers can use AI to analyze data, generate insights, create content, design products, or improve customer service.

AI skills can also help Gen Z workers stand out from the crowd and demonstrate their value to employers. According to LinkedIn Learning, 83% of organizations want to build a more people-centric culture, and learning and development (L&D) departments are helping. However, 100% of organizations are also looking at ways to use AI to perform lower-level tasks. Therefore, Gen Z workers who combine AI skills with human skills such as communication, creativity, and emotional intelligence will have a competitive edge in the job market.

Leveraging AI to Connect and Collaborate

A third way that AI could help Gen Z workers is by enabling them to connect and collaborate with others in the workplace. One of the challenges that Gen Z workers face is building relationships with older colleagues who may have different work styles and expectations. The pandemic exacerbated this challenge, which forced many workers to work remotely or hybrid.

However, AI can help bridge this gap by facilitating communication, feedback, and mentoring. For example, AI can help Gen Z workers communicate more effectively by suggesting appropriate tone, style, and content for different audiences. AI can also help Gen Z workers receive timely and personalized feedback on their performance by analyzing data from various sources. And AI can help Gen Z workers find mentors who can guide them through their career development by matching them with compatible professionals.

Additionally, one of Gen Z's challenges entering the workforce as remote employees has been disconnection from older colleagues. But, says Forrest, their knowledge of AI could help them build those bridges – and even reverse mentor. By sharing their expertise and experience with AI tools,

Gen Z workers can help older colleagues learn new skills and adopt new working methods. This can foster mutual respect, trust, and collaboration across generations.

AI is disrupting Gen Z's career paths in both positive and negative ways. On the one hand, AI threatens Gen Z's job security, skill development, and career progression. On the other hand, AI offers an opportunity for Gen Z to optimize their work, learn new skills, and connect with others.