As AI becomes increasingly embedded into workplaces across industries, recent research shows its use is growing rapidly. According to Gallup, AI use at work has nearly doubled over the past two years, while daily use has climbed even more sharply in just the past year.
Against this backdrop, online career resources platform Resume Genius has released its Gen Z and AI in the Workplace Report, based on a survey of 1,000 full-time Gen Z employees in the U.S. The study assessed the extent to which young professionals rely on AI in their daily work, with findings also broken down by gender to highlight differences in usage and behavior.
Gen Z employees have mixed feelings about a potential AI workplace ban
The survey asked Gen Z workers how they would respond if AI tools were banned at work, and the responses showed a wide range of dependence:
52% say they would support a ban and prefer to work without AI.
51% say they would continue using AI after hours or on personal devices.
48% say they wouldn’t support a ban.
39% say they would need to find alternative ways to complete tasks.
34% say a ban would make them less efficient and slow them down.
33% say they would continue using AI at work on company devices, despite the ban.
18% say they wouldn’t be able to do their current job without AI and would need to quit or change roles.
“It’s striking that nearly one in five Gen Z workers say they couldn’t do their jobs and need to quit without AI in the picture,” said Eva Chan, Career Expert at Resume Genius. “This result shows just how quickly AI tools have gone from helpful to essential in many workplaces.”
AI Is Gen Z’s always-on work assistant
Based on the report findings, Gen Z office workers have deeply integrated AI into their day-to-day workflow:
74% use AI for brainstorming or generating creative ideas.
68% use it for writing or editing reports and emails.
61% use it to analyze large datasets for insights.
61% automate repetitive administrative tasks.
60% say AI helps them work faster and more easily.
56% say it improves the accuracy and quality of their work.
54% say AI allows them to focus more on creative or strategic tasks.
One in four Gen Z workers say AI is hurting their mental health
Interestingly, not all Gen Z workers are thriving with AI on the job. The same tools boosting productivity are also stirring up new worries among them.
49% are concerned that AI could lead to unfair or biased decisions that affect them at work.
40% say AI is forcing them to learn new skills just to keep up with their work.
39% feel burned out by how often AI tools are updated.
38% say they need to use AI just to manage their workload.
37% say AI makes them feel replaceable.
23% say using AI at work has negatively affected their mental health.
AI is becoming Gen Z’s office therapist
Beyond productivity, many Gen Z employees are increasingly turning to AI for help with interpersonal situations at work:
57% use AI to review or improve work before handing it to their manager.
22% do this often or always.
56% use AI for advice on how to communicate with managers or coworkers.
19% do this often or always.
55% use AI to clarify tone or meaning in messages.
23% do this often or always.
51% turn to AI for help navigating workplace conflicts or difficult conversations.
16% do this often or always.
“For many Gen Z office workers, AI acts as a digital co-pilot that helps them write, plan, and come up with ideas,” said Geoffrey Scott, Senior Hiring Manager at Resume Genius. “The danger lies in when that co-pilot takes over and becomes the captain.”
“It’s clear that AI is becoming an everyday support system for many Gen Z professionals,” added Chan. “But it’s also becoming their go-to solution when they don’t know what to say or do and how to handle tough situations. The concern is when workers start outsourcing not just tasks, but their judgment, confidence, and even their voice. If we’re not careful, we could see a generation that struggles to make decisions without AI hand-holding.”
Some Gen Z workers are testing boundaries
While many Gen Z workers use AI responsibly, a significant number admit to more questionable practices:
39% have used AI to automate tasks without their manager’s knowledge.
14% say they do this often or always.
31% have used AI in ways that may violate company policies, such as sharing internal data.
11% say they do this often or always.
30% have generated fake work using AI to appear more productive.
11% say they do this often or always.
Is AI-generated work cheating? Gen Z isn’t always disclosing it
According to the survey findings, 28% of Gen Z workers have passed off AI work as their own without telling anyone. Of those who did:
43% say their work was well received.
41% say they would do it again.
26% say they felt guilty about it.
13% say their work was poorly received.
9% say they were caught.
When broken down by gender, 40% of Gen Z men reported submitting AI-generated work without telling anyone, compared to 20% of women. Of those who presented AI-generated work as their own:
44% of men say they would do it again (vs. 37% of women).
24% of men say they felt guilty about it (vs. 28% of women).
Gen Z is outsourcing career questions to AI
The Gen Z and AI in the Workplace Report also found that AI is increasingly being used to guide big-picture decisions at work:
56% use AI to write CVs and cover letters when applying for jobs.
53% use AI to help with career decisions, such as salary negotiation or getting a promotion.
50% use AI to better understand company policies or workplace rules.
42% say AI has opened new career opportunities for them.
