August 07, 2025
Gen Z Is Using AI at Work, They’re Just Not Telling You
For today’s digital-native workforce, AI has quickly become a go-to productivity booster. According to new findings from the 2025 Cox Business Workplace Technology Survey, Millennials and Gen Z employees are using AI agents regularly, whether it’s summarising meetings, generating ideas, or even writing code. However, many aren’t exactly advertising how much they rely on AI to do things.
Nearly half of Gen Z and Millennial professionals admit they’re reluctant to share just how much of their work is AI-assisted. As many as 47% are worried that leaning too heavily on AI could put their positions at risk. Despite being early adopters of workplace technology, these younger workers are navigating a complex landscape of innovation, uncertainty, and unclear company policies.
“Our survey highlights valuable insights into how organisations can better align with the expectations of their younger employees,” said Jeff Breaux, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for Cox Communications. “This presents a tremendous opportunity for companies and their IT teams to enhance their strategies around tech investment, rollouts, training, and policies; ensuring they meet the evolving needs of a workforce that is rapidly becoming the majority.”
Part of the problem stems from a lack of guidance. As many as 30% of respondents either don’t know if their employer has an AI policy or say there isn’t one at all. This leaves employees unsure of the boundaries, and in many cases, leads them to keep their AI use under wraps. When there’s no clear playbook, even tech-savvy users play it safe.
Not Only AI
A striking 63% of Gen Z and Millennials admit to using personal apps or software for work purposes. While this might boost individual productivity, it also opens the door to potential security risks for businesses, especially if IT teams are unaware of these shadow tools in use.
Ironically, while these generations are fluent in modern tech, they don’t feel heard. Just 16% believe they have a meaningful influence when it comes to recommending or selecting workplace tools. Despite being the most connected, most digitally fluent employees, Gen Z and Millennials often feel sidelined when decisions are made about the very tools they use daily.
Adding to the frustration, nearly 70% of these younger workers feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of workplace technologies they’re expected to use. Most say they’re more comfortable with personal tools, finding them faster, simpler, and better suited to their needs than what their companies provide.
In short, Gen Z and Millennials may be driving the AI revolution at work, but they’re doing it quietly, often without support, and rarely with a seat at the decision-making table.
