Despite growing up in a world where technology is an integral part of daily life, Gen Z is not as familiar with artificial intelligence (AI) as we might assume. This is a critical finding from the recent EY report titled “How can we upskill Gen Z as fast as we train AI?”, conducted in collaboration with Microsoft and TeachAI.

Key Insights from the Study

The report surveyed over 5,000 young people across 16 countries through quiz-like questions to assess their AI-related skills. It highlights that while Gen Z recognizes the practical applications of AI, they often overestimate their ability to use and critically evaluate it. Specifically, their capacity to identify AI’s limitations and flaws is shown to be limited.

Gen Z’s Interaction with AI

The research categorizes Gen Z’s engagement with AI into three groups:

• Varied Users (61%): Those who adapt their AI use to personal or professional needs.
• Super Users (15%): Frequent and advanced users of AI.
• Stragglers (24%): Those who rarely or never use AI.

While 69% of respondents are aware of AI’s everyday applications, only 44% claim they can identify when AI systems present incorrect or misleading information. Furthermore, just 56% feel confident in crafting effective prompts for AI tools.

The Importance of AI-Related Skills

Participants highlighted creativity and curiosity (52%) as the most important skills for leveraging AI, followed by critical thinking (47%) and coding/programming (46%). They view AI as a time-saving tool that can analyze large datasets and reduce human errors. However, they also express concerns about its societal impacts, such as job displacement, reduced creativity, and the spread of misinformation.

AI in Education and the Workplace

The study found differing attitudes towards AI between educators and employers:

• Educators (42%): Tend to discourage AI use in some processes, likely due to fears of plagiarism and over-reliance on technology.
• Employers (15%): Are less restrictive, reflecting a more practical approach to preparing the workforce.

Recommendations for Bridging the AI Skills Gap

The report emphasizes the need to equip Gen Z with the skills required to understand, use, and evaluate AI responsibly. It proposes strategies for educators and employers:

1. Public-Private Sector Collaboration
   Develop AI education programs through partnerships between schools, universities, businesses, and technology providers. Tailored programs should focus on technical skills while fostering critical evaluation abilities.

2. Leveraging Social Media for Education
   Since 55% of Gen Z relies on social networks as their primary source of AI information, organizations should create and promote reliable content about AI on these platforms.

Preparing for the Future

Commenting on the findings, Efthychia Kaselaki, Partner and Head of Organization, Change & People Services at EY Greece, stated:
“This report underscores a unique challenge and opportunity. Gen Z, along with AI, will shape the future of work. Through strategic collaborations, we can create education programs that combine technical and soft skills to help young professionals critically engage with AI. By doing so, we enable them to lead responsibly in an AI-driven era.”

The report concludes that investing in the human skills needed to complement AI is essential for innovation and sustainable technological progress.