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.

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.