New survey reveals Gen Z's relationship with AI chatbots 'goes beyond convenience'
Gen Z employees engage more with ChatGPT than their own colleagues, according to a new survey, as they develop connections with the chatbot for reasons beyond work.
The poll from Resume.org among 1,000 Gen Z employees revealed that 43% of them spend at least 30 minutes using ChatGPT or a similar chatbot.
A further 13% use it for one to two hours, while others use it for two to four hours (6%), or even longer than that (5%).
According to the report, 37% of employees said they now interact with ChatGPT as much as they interact with their human colleagues. Some 22% said they interact more with AI, while 41% interact with coworkers more.
It has gotten to a point where employees are saying AI chatbots know them better than their own boss (45%) or their own colleagues (25%).
Even outside of work, employees said AI chatbots know more about them than their friends (13%) and family (11%).
Nearly half of the respondents consider ChatGPT as a "tool," but there are others who describe the technology as a friend (13%) and a therapist or coach (9%).
Connection with AI
These connections come as AI chatbots get more embedded in organisational workflows in a bid to make employees more productive.
More than three in four Gen Zs (77%) agreed that AI makes them more productive, while 33% said the technology makes them much more productive at work.
But these stronger connections with AI tools develop as employees use them for more than work-related purposes, according to the report.
While 77% of employees said they use AI for job-related tasks, another 42% said they use it for non-work-related discussions or tasks. Others said they use it for:
- Entertainment (38%)
- To talk through work frustrations (33%)
- To appear productive (15%)
In fact, 34% of employees said they tell AI chatbots things they've never told another person. This includes 16% who said they frequently discuss personal topics, such as mental health and relationships, with the technology.
Kara Dennison, Resume.org's Head of Career Advising, said their findings show that Gen Z's relationship with AI goes beyond convenience.
"It's about connection, control, and immediacy. This generation entered the workforce during a digital-first era where feedback loops are instant and tools like ChatGPT feel like a judgement-free zone for brainstorming, venting, or getting quick answers," Dennison said in a statement.
"They're using AI the way earlier generations used coffee breaks or hallway chats: to decompress, problem-solve, or feel understood."
Dennison said AI also fills the "relational void" after casual mentorship or watercooler chats never got established as Gen Zs entered hybrid or remote jobs.
"[AI] listens, it responds thoughtfully, and it never criticises. That creates a sense of psychological safety that's often missing in corporate hierarchies," she added.
The expert, however, warned about the potential implications of the findings to human connections.
"While it's encouraging that AI can provide accessible support and boost confidence, it's also concerning if it replaces genuine human connection," Dennison said.
"Over-reliance on AI for emotional support may leave younger professionals without the interpersonal resilience, emotional intelligence, or mentorship they need to thrive long-term."
