Gen Z has a dirty little tech secret — and it’s all about AI.
A bombshell new survey by Undetectable AI shows that while 71% of zoomers are hooked on ChatGPT, a jaw-dropping 43% admit they’re using it “deceptively.”
Talk about digital delinquents.
“They’re using it for everything from homework to creating content, and they’re not ashamed to admit it, says Devan Leos, the Gen Z co-founder of Undetectable.ai
The online survey of 1,000 Gen Z respondents conducted by Undetectable.ai reveals a complex and often contradictory relationship with artificial intelligence. It reveals both widespread adoption and deep-seated concerns about the technology’s impact.
Key Findings
- Daily Usage: 71.93% of Gen Z uses AI at least “somewhat” frequently, with 21.31% using it daily
- Platform Dominance: ChatGPT leads with 71.53% adoption, followed by Meta AI (37.75%) and Google Gemini (36.74%)
- Ethical Concerns: 68.60% believe ethical concerns about AI aren’t discussed enough
- Transparency Gap: While 43% admit to using AI “deceptively,” 63.13% simultaneously advocate for transparency in AI use
Concerns and Apprehensions
CARLOS BARQUERO – shutterstock.com
Gen Z’s responses are a mixed bag. They love, hate, and fear AI.
“It scares me to death. They learn and remember. The Terminator movie is possibly a prediction of our own future!” one Gen Zer admitted in the survey.
“My boyfriend gets so annoyed,” revealed another respondent, describing how AI has infiltrated their relationship.
The survey also revealed that existential threats, AI hallucinations, and copyright issues were the biggest concerns they had about AI.
“We are watching the death of art unfold,” warned one creative Zoomer, while another defended AI as “literally amazing to use.”
The survey reveals Gen Z primarily uses AI for:
- Voice Assistants (52.48%)
- AI-generated Text (49.75%)
- School/Research (39.85%)
- Predictive Text (32.07%)
- AI Image Generation (26.29%)
Gen Z primarily learns about AI through:
- Social Media (77.39%)
- YouTube (48.32%)
- Friends and Peers (40.40%)
- Online News Publications (34.16%)
The AI Companion Phenomenon
The survey revealed a notable resistance to AI companionship:
- 76.65% would not use an AI companion app
- Only 15.08% would consider it
- 8.28% have already used such applications
Interestingly, despite most saying they wouldn’t use an AI companion, one analysis of the survey found that men in Colorado are becoming more interested in dating/having an AI partner.
Workplace Impact
A significant portion of respondents expressed concern about AI’s impact on employment:
- 23.44% view AI as an existential threat
- “Silent firing” and job displacement ranked among top concerns
- Many report using AI to enhance rather than replace work tasks
Recommendations for the public
- Transparency First: With 63.13% of Gen Z demanding transparency, organizations should prioritize clear AI use policies
- Ethical Framework: Address the 68.60% concerned about ethical discussions by developing comprehensive AI guidelines
- Educational Investment: Given that 39.85% use AI for education, institutions should develop clear AI policies and training
Gen Z’s engagement with AI is anything but simple. As the survey shows, they are power users, particularly of ChatGPT, integrating these tools into daily life and education, sometimes covertly. However, this practical embrace is interwoven with deep anxieties about ethics, job displacement, and the very nature of AI’s unchecked growth.
The path forward requires acknowledging this complexity, fostering ethical development, and creating transparent guidelines to build trust with a generation that is both AI’s biggest user base and among its most concerned critics.
The Undetectable AI survey reveals a generation grappling with the profound complexities of artificial intelligence. Gen Z’s widespread adoption of tools like ChatGPT for daily tasks, from schoolwork (a key use case for 39.85%) to content creation, is undeniable. Yet, the admission by 43% of using these tools “deceptively” exists in stark tension with the finding that 63% simultaneously demand greater transparency in AI’s application. This apparent paradox highlights not simple hypocrisy, but a generation navigating a rapidly evolving technological landscape often without formal guidance, learning primarily through informal, pervasive channels like social media (77%) and YouTube (48%).
Their significant ethical concerns – voiced by over two-thirds (68.6%) of respondents who feel these issues aren’t discussed enough – are specific and deeply felt. They range from anxieties about job security and AI-driven “silent firing” to fears surrounding the spread of misinformation via AI hallucinations, copyright infringement impacting creators (“death of art”), and even the potential for existential threats reminiscent of science fiction. This apprehension extends to personal boundaries, evidenced by the strong resistance (76.65%) to AI companionship apps. It paints a picture far removed from blind acceptance, showcasing instead a discerning, if sometimes conflicted, user base.
This complex blend of pragmatic utility, hidden usage, and deep-seated fear underscores the urgent need for proactive engagement from all sectors. Open dialogue involving educators, employers, technology developers, and Gen Z themselves is critical. Furthermore, developing robust ethical frameworks and clear educational policies isn’t just advisable; it’s essential to bridge the gap between AI’s powerful capabilities and its potential pitfalls. Understanding and addressing this nuanced relationship is crucial to ensuring AI’s integration into society is responsible, transparent, and considers the legitimate concerns of the generation most immersed in its rise.
