Recent studies indicate that Generation Z is not only among the most frequent and adept users of generative artificial intelligence, but they also display serious apprehensions about its implications. This paradox is rooted in the increasing demand for AI proficiency from employers.
Gavin Federizo, a 20-year-old philosophy major at Tufts University focusing on AI policy, expressed the complexity of this sentiment: "It's an eat or be eaten mentality. We all dislike the fact that AI is being utilized, but we dislike even more the need to adopt it."
Over the past year, while negative sentiment toward AI has intensified among students and young professionals, the job market in Boston has surged with a strong appetite for AI skills, even among entry-level positions. According to job search platform Indeed, mentions of AI qualifications in Boston job listings almost tripled in just one year, outpacing growth in other major tech cities, including New York.
A report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers revealed that over a third of junior roles now explicitly require AI expertise, a significant rise from about 10% last fall, showcasing a shift across various sectors, including manufacturing and finance. Job applicants are often expected to leverage AI for tasks such as data analysis, report generation, visual presentation creation, making forecasts, and automating routine activities like scheduling.
As Khushi Khetwani, a 22-year-old Northeastern University graduate, points out, AI use has become inescapable, despite her concerns regarding its environmental and privacy impacts. Though she experimented with chatbots to enhance her skills, she ultimately declined a job that necessitated using AI, choosing instead to align her career with her values.
A Quinnipiac University poll revealed that Gen Z is the cohort most worried about AI's implications for employment, followed by millennials, Generation X, and baby boomers. Their concerns are varied, including privacy issues, mistrust of AI-generated results, and fears that it undermines creativity and human relationships. Additionally, Gen Z tends to be particularly sensitive to environmental issues, especially regarding AI's hefty energy consumption.
Despite the unease, Gen Z remains the most active demographic using AI tools in professional settings, as noted in 2025 data from Deloitte and the Pew Research Center. Ang Richard, a career coach and researcher at Boston College, remarks on the struggle many young individuals face in reconciling their values with the necessity of utilizing AI for career advancement. He notes that the allure of significant financial opportunities might lead them to adapt their interaction with AI.
In Boston, hiring managers across various sectors now view the familiarity with AI tools as essential for entry-level candidates. Recruiters at SharkNinja, a consumer goods company, report having created programs to support new hires in adapting to their AI-centric work culture, as some express anxiety and frustration regarding AI use. Elizabeth Norberg, the company's chief people officer, noted that many recent graduates require guidance to navigate business applications of AI, even though they often possess a foundational understanding of the technology.
While Gen Z brings a wealth of general knowledge about AI, they often lack practical experience in deploying these tools effectively, such as in data analysis or model coding. Nonetheless, Christopher Stanton, a professor at Harvard Business School, highlights that those who embrace AI technology tend to advance more quickly within their careers compared to those who resist it.
Sam Iannone, a junior majoring in product management at Northeastern University, recognizes the importance of his AI expertise, which has helped him secure two internships at Whoop, a Boston wearable technology firm. “As a college student, it’s clear that becoming proficient in AI is essential,” he stated.
Leading employers, such as Boston Consulting Group and software giant HubSpot, have emphasized the integration of AI in their entry-level roles to streamline repetitive tasks. However, an April Gallup poll indicated a 14% decline in Gen Z's enthusiasm for generative AI within just a year. This trend is particularly marked among daily users, of whom around half express frustration with the technology. University students have even voiced their discontent during graduation ceremonies, protesting speakers who praised AI's potential.
Ayah Mahmoud, a recent MIT graduate, noted that while her experience in AI product design enhances her resume, she views many corporate applications of the technology as ethically questionable. Moreover, Maitraye Das, an assistant professor at Northeastern, describes a feeling of "resigned compliance" among students who feel compelled to use AI tools for academic and career needs, despite their personal reservations.
Khetwani recounted an instance during an internship when she was instructed to delegate a presentation to AI. “It was something I didn't want to do, but turning down such requests isn’t an option in the workplace,” she reflected. A Harvard Kennedy School survey found that more than half of young adults aged 18 to 29 view AI as a threat to job security, and a significant portion believes it diminishes the meaningfulness of work.
Workforce data from Revelio Labs indicated a 35% decrease in demand for junior positions between 2023 and 2025, with entry-level roles heavily affected in areas where AI has been anticipated to take over. However, there are signs of improvement, as some organizations have found that AI is not as capable of managing entry-level tasks as once believed. Intern-to-full-time conversion rates have risen for the first time since a five-year low, and hiring for new graduates is forecasted to increase by 5.6%, according to NACE.
Major companies such as IBM and Klarna have even reversed their earlier commitments to automate positions, focusing instead on hiring. Yet, many younger workers continue to express concern over AI's effects on their future career trajectories. As Federizo succinctly stated, "The reasons to resist using AI aren’t going anywhere; it’s just becoming easier, making it even more challenging to avoid dependence on it."
