Millennials lead UK workplaces in AI tool adoption, study finds

UK Millennials are reportedly more adept at integrating and utilising AI tools in the workplace compared to their Gen Z counterparts, according to findings from Freshworks' AI Workplace report.

The report indicates that 74% of Millennial workers in the UK feel comfortable using AI at work, in contrast to 66% of Gen Z employees. This highlights an unexpected trend where older Millennials, despite their digital immigrant status, demonstrate a stronger grasp of AI tools than the younger, digitally native Gen Z.

In recent months, 56% of Millennials have reported an improvement in their AI knowledge as opposed to 54% of Gen Z. The data shows a greater inclination among Millennials to enhance their AI skills, with only 7% of Millennials uncertain about AI's role in supporting their work. This is slightly lower than the 10% uncertainty reported among Gen Z workers.

Moreover, Millennials appear to be aligning their career ambitions closely with AI integration. According to the report, 62% of Millennial respondents stated that they would be willing to change jobs for increased AI usage. This is significantly higher than the 44% of Gen Z employees who echoed this sentiment. Millennials' affinity for AI seems to contribute positively to their career advancement; 41% have received promotions or salary increases due to their AI usage, as opposed to 36% of Gen Z workers.

The report further sheds light on Millennials' perception of AI as a crucial element for business success. A majority of 64% view AI as essential to achieving business objectives in 2025, a slightly higher figure compared to 59% of Gen Z respondents who think the same.

Alexander Liden-Lockwood, a Consultant with Kaizo, highlighted the trend, saying, "Despite many Millennials not having the same levels of education and early career exposure to technology compared to Gen Z, when it comes to AI, Millennials are driving the AI-first movement forward faster than anyone else."

The embrace of AI tools appears to also impact the overall enjoyment and engagement at work among Millennials. The report reveals that 48% of Millennials find work more enjoyable with the aid of AI tools, in comparison to 33% of Gen Z employees. Likewise, 38% of Millennials reported feeling more engaged at work due to AI, compared to 26% of Gen Z workers.

This data suggests a pivotal role for Millennials in advancing AI adoption within workplaces, potentially setting a benchmark for Gen Z to follow. The willingness of Millennials to learn and integrate AI appears to play a critical role in their current advantage over their younger colleagues. "Understanding the importance of AI has translated into better sentiment and higher learning rates amongst Millennial workers compared to Gen Z workers," the report concluded.