Losing jobs to AI was just the start, Gen Z is outsourcing emotions too. New reports warn of a looming crisis
In the age of
ChatGPT
and
AI-powered chatbots
,
Generation Z
has found more than just a workplace assistant—they may have found a confidante. But is that necessarily a good thing? According to a June report from
Resume.org
, an overwhelming 76% of Gen Z workers in the U.S. use AI chatbots, and 94% of those users rely on these tools to help with workplace issues. Many turn to AI to interpret a manager's tone, navigate miscommunication, and even draft sensitive emails. While this may offer comfort and convenience, it's raising red flags among career experts.
Kara Dennison, head of career advising at
Resume.org
, points out a key risk: 'Gen Z workers often feel more validated and confident after consulting AI because these tools offer immediate, judgment-free feedback.' However, she cautions that constant validation without challenge can foster a dangerous cycle. 'If an AI tool consistently validates a user's perspective without challenging it, it can reinforce a fixed mindset, enabling blame-shifting rather than self-reflection.'
A Shift in Communication, But at What Cost?
The data shows a marked transformation in how Gen Z communicates. Nearly half of those surveyed say they alter how they interact with colleagues after using AI. A third become more assertive, while 26% are more inclined to apologize or accept fault.
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Most strikingly, 75% of users reported using AI to analyze digital communications like emails or messages. More than half of respondents even see AI as a colleague or a friend. Nearly half admitted they would rather ask a chatbot for help than approach their boss.
But this evolving reliance may come with serious developmental consequences. As Dennison notes, 'AI can't interpret body language, understand power imbalances, or navigate complex organizational dynamics.' The absence of these crucial elements could hinder professional growth, limiting one's ability to build real-world communication skills and resilience.
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MIT Study Adds to the Debate: Is AI Making Us Mentally Lazy?
A separate but related concern has emerged from a recent MIT study that examined how prolonged AI use may affect cognitive engagement. In a controlled experiment, researchers found that participants who relied on ChatGPT to write essays showed significantly lower brain activity and had difficulty recalling what they had written. The study coined this phenomenon as 'cognitive debt'—a type of mental atrophy caused by offloading thinking tasks to machines.
The most engaged group? Those who wrote essays without any AI assistance. Not only did they perform better, but they also displayed a higher sense of ownership over their work.
The MIT researchers drew parallels to the introduction of calculators in the 1970s. Back then, education systems raised the bar, requiring students to apply higher-order thinking skills rather than basic arithmetic. Today, however, educators have largely failed to evolve curricula that integrate AI as a complementary tool, leading to what some experts are calling 'metacognitive laziness.'
— rohanpaul_ai (@rohanpaul_ai)
Emotional Intelligence in the Age of Automation
While AI offers efficiency and reassurance, experts agree it cannot replace fundamental human faculties like emotional intelligence. 'Healthy workplace communication depends on empathy, active listening, and accountability,' says Dennison. 'AI can complement that process, but it cannot replace it.'
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McLean & Co., in a separate advisory report, urges employers and HR professionals to foster emotionally healthy workplaces that don't shy away from emotion but instead integrate it into a supportive work culture. 'Being proactive about how emotions and work coexist,' the report states, 'is essential to building workplaces where everyone can thrive.'
The AI Generation's Challenge
As AI tools become embedded in workplace dynamics, the next generation faces a delicate balancing act: using technology as a partner without letting it take over the hard parts of being human.
Knowing when to consult a chatbot and when to face a situation head-on may be the defining skill of Gen Z's professional life. Because while AI can simulate support, it can't replace the grit, empathy, and growth that come from real-life challenges—and real-life people.
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