N ew global research finds 57% of young professionals feel comfortable or very confident about the increasing integration of artificial intelligence in various aspects of daily life, while only 15% reported feeling unsettled or scared about the prospect, according to new research from CEMS, a global alliance of leading business schools, multinational companies and NGOs.
Half also stated that social media impacts their life positively, while only just over a quarter (27%) feel that social media has a negative impact on their lives. Overall, 70% of graduates said that they feel optimistic about the future.
A balanced narrative around AI
The global survey was conducted among recent graduates from the CEMS Master in International Management (MIM), who are now in their first year of work, or who have gone onto further study.
Nicole de Fontaines, Executive Director of CEMS, says, “These results reveal that the majority of young people are not just accepting but embracing the increasing integration of artificial intelligence into various facets of their daily lives. They reveal a profound level of comfort and confidence, signalling a generational shift in attitudes toward AI.
“One key factor driving this positive sentiment may be the seamless incorporation of AI into routine tasks, making life more efficient and convenient. Moreover, there is potential for AI to address pressing global challenges. Young people are aware of AI’s role in fields such as healthcare, climate research, and social justice initiatives.”
CEMS Student Board President Leonard Bussee adds, “Since our childhood, our generation has been exposed to the rapid advancements in technology. Crude forms of AI-like technology have been trialled and utilised in the digital space young people move around in for a quite a while now.
“For example, this includes interactive characters in games, content suggestions on Instagram, editing software etc. Utilising it in other aspects of daily life does not entail a huge change or step into a new world.”
Salary is top criteria for jobseekers
81% of graduates named salary in their top three criteria that would most influence their decision to take on a new role, followed by work-life balance (61%) and opportunities for quick career progression (51%).
The gap between salary and work-life balance as a top criterion has widened in the past few years, possibly in response to the current global cost-of-living crisis, meaning salary is an increasingly important factor for jobseekers.
58% said that three to five years is an ideal amount of time to spend in a role before looking for a new one – either in the same or a new company.
University students
More than half of undergraduates say they consult artificial intelligence programmes to help with their essays, while schools are trialling its use in the classroom.
A survey of more than one thousand UK undergraduates, conducted by the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi), found 53% were using AI to generate material for work they would be marked on. One in four are using applications such as Google Bard or ChatGPT to suggest topics, and one in eight is using them to create content. Just 5% admitted to copying and pasting unedited AI-generated text into their assessments.
Dr Andres Guadamuz, a reader in intellectual property law at the University of Sussex, said it was no surprise that more students were adopting AI and suggested institutions needed to be explicit in discussing how best to use it as a study tool.
“I’ve implemented a policy of having mature conversations with students about generative AI. They share with me how they utilise it,” Guadamuz comments.
“My primary concern is the significant number of students who are unaware of the potential for ‘hallucinations’ and inaccuracies in AI. I believe it is our responsibility as educators to address this issue directly.”
The Hepi survey found that one in three students using AI did not know how often it ‘hallucinates’ – i.e. invents statistics, academic citations or book titles to fill in what it perceives to be gaps.
The use of AI might instead help cut the workload burden on teachers, as well as improving the quality of their teaching. Gillian Keegan, while Secretary of State for Education, said AI could take on the “heavy lifting” of marking and planning for teachers.
Artificial Intelligence is here to stay and rather than being burdened by the concerns about it, Gen Z seem to be taking in their stride and using it to enhance their lives.
