Millennials embrace AI more than other age groups: Udacity

CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — Millennials are at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence in the workplace, a recent study from Udacity has revealed.
Over half of the millennials surveyed believe AI has significantly improved their decision-making abilities (55%), alleviated stress levels (53%), and boosted creativity (53%). This generational group also sees AI as a tool to potentially increase revenue, with 54% affirming this belief.
In contrast, their younger and older colleagues, Generations Z and X, are less convinced about the benefits of AI at work. Just 21% of Gen Z and 19% of Gen X workers reported improved decision-making due to AI, with far fewer acknowledging its potential to enhance income—24% and 16% respectively.
The 2025 State of AI at Work Report was conducted in September 2024 with 850 people from 87 countries and 22 industries.
Generational perspectives on AI
Cam Marston, a generational expert and president of Generational Insights, isn’t surprised by the findings. “New tech has always been the darling of the youth. Millennials have used it to distinguish themselves from their elders in the workplace,” he remarked.
Bruce Tulgan, CEO of RainmakerThinking, highlights that millennials’ positive response is due to their deeper engagement and familiarity with AI, learning how to weave it into their daily tasks and projects.
Gen X’s cautious approach and Gen Z’s normalization of technology reflect different levels of interaction and reliance on AI. Gen X might be slower in adopting AI, seeing it as a tool rather than a necessity, whereas Gen Z workers consider staying updated with technology as part of their routine, rather than upskilling.
Diverse uses and future upskilling
The study further notes that while all generations find writing assistants like ChatGPT useful, millennials prefer AI tools for image generation, whereas Gen Z and Gen X lean more towards translation tools.
A separate LinkedIn survey indicated a trend of midcareer millennials leading in upskilling to leverage AI for career advancement, with 54% actively pursuing AI knowledge.
Tulgan points out that while baby boomers are phasing out of the workforce, Gen Z views technology integration simply as keeping up. Gen X, facing retirement in the next decade, is also focusing on acquiring new skills to remain competitive, possibly motivated by a sense of urgency to keep pace with younger cohorts.