TLDR: Recent reports indicate Gen Z is increasingly integrating AI into their daily lives, from product discovery on social media to professional work, while also showing a pragmatic approach to career choices influenced by AI’s potential impact on job security. This generation exhibits a complex view, embracing AI for efficiency and personalized experiences but also expressing concerns about job displacement and a desire for work-life balance.
Gen Z, the demographic born between the mid-to-late 1990s and early 2010s, is reshaping the landscape of technology adoption, particularly concerning social media and artificial intelligence. This generation, expected to command up to $9 trillion in global spending power by 2034, demonstrates a nuanced perspective, leveraging AI for convenience and efficiency while also considering its implications for their professional futures.
In the realm of commerce, Gen Z is at the forefront of a “social shopping explosion.” According to Salesforce’s latest Connected Shoppers Report, 76% of Gen Z individuals discover products on social media platforms, with 39% having made purchases through these channels. This trend is further amplified by their adoption of AI; more than half (54%) of Gen Zers have utilized generative AI to discover and evaluate products, significantly higher than the 39% for the total population. While YouTube remains dominant overall, TikTok is a particular hotspot for Gen Z, attracting 40% of younger shoppers. Linda Saunders, country leader and senior director solutions engineering, Africa, noted, “Social commerce is the latest channel for digital spending that is fragmenting across a constellation of marketplaces… Brands that fully embrace its potential will be in prime position to capture their share of the growing Gen Z market.”
Beyond social shopping, Gen Z and Millennials are increasingly turning to AI for advice. A new global study from Commerce and Future Commerce, “The New Modes 2025 report,” reveals that one in three Gen Z and one in four Millennials now prefer AI platforms over traditional search engines, social media, or influencers for shopping guidance. This shift, termed “agentic commerce,” sees AI becoming the primary stop in the consumer journey. In Australia and New Zealand, this trend is particularly pronounced, with 46% of Gen Z and Millennials using AI platforms daily. Al Williams, general manager of B2C at Commerce, emphasized this generational change: “Gen Z and Millennials now trust AI more than search, social or influencers to guide what they buy. The shift is clear: brands that show up inside AI-driven platforms will be the ones earning relevance and loyalty in this new era.” The report also found that 23% of Gen Z and 27% of Millennials trust AI recommendations more than human ones.
In the professional sphere, Gen Z’s interaction with AI is equally transformative, yet complex. A Mondaq report from September 29, 2025, focusing on Gen Z lawyers, highlights that 74% believe generative AI will impact their work within the next year. As digital natives, they expect modern legal technology that helps them work smarter, rejecting “endless email chains” and “paper-based documents” in favor of streamlined communication and legal workflow automation. However, this embrace of AI in the workplace comes with reservations. A Cox Business survey revealed that while many Gen Z and Millennial employees use AI tools for productivity (e.g., summarizing notes, brainstorming, coding), about half are hesitant to disclose their AI usage to their employers. This secrecy is largely driven by fear of job loss, with 47% of Gen Z and Millennial employees concerned that AI could replace their jobs. Furthermore, 30% are unfamiliar with or claim their company has no defined AI policy.
These concerns about automation also influence Gen Z’s career choices. A Forbes report from September 29, 2025, indicates a rising phenomenon where younger people are increasingly opting for trade professions over traditional four-year college degrees. Spring enrollment at vocational schools is up 12% compared to 4% for undergraduate university enrollment. A significant 77% of Gen Z members surveyed by Jobber stated it’s “important to choose a career that’s difficult to automate.” Parents are also influencing this shift, with only 16% of Gen Z parents believing a college degree guarantees long-term job security. Blue-collar roles like carpenters (56%), plumbers (54%), and electricians (51%) are perceived as more immune to AI automation compared to digital roles like software developers (18%) or data analysts (14%). The report underscores that while technology supports trade workers, it does not substitute for them, emphasizing that “physical work and problem solving still rely on trained professionals.”
Also Read:
- Generational Shift: Gen Z and Millennials Prioritize AI for Shopping Decisions
- Generative AI’s Rapid Consumer Embrace Outpaces Strategic Enterprise Deployment
Overall, Gen Z’s relationship with social media and AI is characterized by a pragmatic adoption of new technologies for personal and professional gain, coupled with a keen awareness of the challenges and opportunities these advancements present for their future.
