How Gen Z workers use AI at work when no one is looking

Nearly a third (30%) of respondents said they have generated fake work using AI to appear more productive.

AI can significantly enhance our ability to perform tasks more efficiently and easily.

As digital natives, Gen Z workers are naturally savvier at using these tools. But how deeply is AI shaping their work lives?

The recent Gen Z and AI in the Workplace Report released by Resume Genius has surveyed 1,000 full-time Gen Z employees in the U.S. The results revealed that AI has become an everyday essential for many young workers, with some even testing boundaries of acceptable use.

*While the survey was conducted in the US, HRO believes the results remain relevant to our readership in Asia.

According to the report, the majority of Gen Z professionals surveyed said AI makes their job easier:

• 60% said AI helps them get their work done faster and with less effort.
• 56% said it improves the accuracy and quality of their work.
• 54% said it frees them up to focus on creative or strategic tasks.
• 42% said AI has opened up new career opportunities for them.

Therefore, Gen Z office workers have deeply integrated AI into their day-to-day workflow, such as:

• 74% use AI for brainstorming or generating creative ideas.
• 68% use it for writing or editing reports and emails.
• 62% turn to it for creating digital content or designing presentations.
• 61% use it to analyse large datasets for insights.
• 61% automate repetitive administrative tasks.
• 57% use it for competitive research or business intel.
• 56% use it to manage meetings and scheduling.

Beyond productivity, many Gen Z employees are increasingly turning to AI for help with interpersonal situations at work, including:

• 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.

Gen Z employees are also relying on AI to guide them in making significant career decisions, as follows:

• 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.

While many Gen Z workers use AI responsibly, a significant number admit to engaging in questionable practices. These may include:

• 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.

The survey also revealed that 28% of Gen Z workers have passed off AI-generated work as their own without disclosure. Among those who did:

• 43% said their work was well received.
• 41% said they would do it again.
• 26% said they felt guilty about it.
• 13% said their work was poorly received.
• 9% said they were caught.

When analysed by gender, 40% of Gen Z men reported submitting AI-generated work without telling anyone, compared to 20% of women. Among those who presented AI-generated work as their own:

• 44% of men said they would do it again (vs. 37% of women).
• 24% of men said they felt guilty about it (vs. 28% of women).

Interestingly, not all Gen Z workers are thriving with AI on the job. The same tools boosting productivity are raise new concerns among them:

• 49% are concerned that AI could lead to unfair or biased decisions that affect them at work.
• 40% said 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% said they need to use AI just to manage their workload.
• 37% said AI makes them feel replaceable.
• 23% said using AI at work has negatively affected their mental health.

Segmented by gender, Gen Z men tend to be more enthusiastic about AI’s potential. Meanwhile, Gen Z women are more likely to report emotional fatigue from the rise of AI.

• 48% of women said they are concerned that AI will lead to unfair biases in workplace decisions (vs. 50% of men).
• 41% of women said frequent AI updates are burning them out (vs. 35% of men).
• 22% said AI has negatively affected their mental health (vs. 26% of men).

When asked how they would respond if AI tools were banned at work, the results indicated a wide range of dependencies:

• 53% said it would have no effect because they don’t use AI.
• 52% said they would support a ban and prefer to work without AI.
• 51% said they would continue using AI after hours or on personal devices.
• 48% said they wouldn’t support a ban.
• 39% said they would need to find alternative ways to complete tasks.
• 34% said a ban would make them less efficient and slow them down.
• 33% said they would continue using AI at work on company devices, despite the ban.
• 18% said they wouldn’t be able to do their current job without AI and would need to quit or change roles.

"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 Eva Chan, Career Expert at Resume Genius.

"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.”