Latest news with #AlexAvramenko
Forbes
12-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Side Hustles: Gen Z Using AI To Raise The Bar To Career Startups
Gen Z is using AI to start side hustles as they grow fearful technology will replace their jobs, and ... More the outcome is raising side hustle standards to career status. Summer is heating up and so are summer side hustles for full-time workers or solo grinders. If you're like much of the American workforce, you need a gig job in 2025 to make extra money in the tanking economy. A notable 71% of the workforce is searching for side hustles or second jobs with another employer. If you're looking for high-earning summer side hustles, the search has gotten easier to find them, but Gen Z is raising the standards for successful side hustles, treating them like serious startups, using AI--the very technology replacing them--to meet customer expectations. I spoke with Alex Avramenko, head of commerce growth at Godaddy, who told me that as Gen Zers raise the bar, it's a wake-up call for anyone selling through side hustles this summer. 'If your online store isn't optimized for how people actually shop, even your best product won't save you,' Avramenko cautions. "Your customers have already moved on.' He mentions that summer is when people finally have the time and headspace to act on business ideas they've been sitting on. But meeting modern customer expectations is the hurdle, not launching a side hustle. A new survey found that amid financial uncertainty 30% of Millennials and 29% of Gen Zers fear they will lose their jobs to AI within the next two years. And 38% of Millennials and 28% of Gen Zers are harnessing AI to start or grow side hustles or freelance income streams, and they're elevating the standards into serious businesses. I also spoke with Andy Kurtzig, CEO of who told me that Gen Z is using AI to become entrepreneurs. 'We're watching a generational pivot in real time. Gen Z is taking the same tools corporations use to eliminate jobs and flipping the script to create opportunities for themselves,' Kurtzig explains. 'They're using AI to re-imagine career paths, build brands and monetize skills that traditional workplaces often overlook. What used to take funding, mentorship and institutional access, they're now doing with a laptop and a chatbot.' Kurtzig refers to the Gen Z entrepreneurs as 'solopreneurs,' designing, planning and operating entire businesses themselves using AI tools. He cites his organization's data showing that AI is not a harbinger of perpetual unemployment for Gen Z but rather a catalyst to visualize and execute side hustles and even full-time businesses that previously seemed unattainable. Avramenko explains that today's consumers, especially younger ones, expect a mobile-first, fast and frictionless buying experience. 'Our survey found that 54% of Gen Z and 50% of Millennials prefer shopping methods that minimize human interaction, such as online shopping or self-checkout,' he explains. 'More than half of Gen Z respondents–and 41% of Millennials–say they've abandoned purchases because a business didn't accept mobile wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay.' According to Avramenko, side gigs like pop-up, farmer's markets and summer fairs have morphed into serious businesses. He says entrepreneurs are using these formats to gather live customer feedback, iterate on offerings and build brand presence in real time. If you want to compete with the online giants, he argues that it's not enough to just show up with a product. 'Your point-of-sale system needs to work as seamlessly as your website,' he says. "Providing mobile checkout and accepting digital payments aren't 'nice-to-haves'–they're expected. In fact, 10% of Gen Z exclusively use their phones to pay for items in person, and five percent no longer carry physical wallets. If your booth doesn't take digital wallets, you're not just leaving money on the table–you're handing it to someone else.' He points out that the Gen Z playbook is building side hustles with intention and urgency, treating them like startups, 'purpose-driven, tech-enabled and built to run lean. They're not interested in wrestling with five platforms or spending weeks getting set up. They want tools that just work, so they can focus on doing what they love." "At the same time, they're shaping how we shop," he notes, citing Godaddy's survey which found that 86% of Gen Z and 76% of Millennials buy items online for in-store or curbside pickup at least once per month. And 54% of Gen Z shop online while at work. "In other words, the window to make a sale is always open, but only if your platform supports that level of ease and immediacy. For anyone looking to reach this audience, the takeaway is simple: reduce friction or risk being forgotten.' Kurtzig warns that while AI helps you launch a business, it can also lead you astray. He shared with me four pros and cons to keep in mind when using AI to start side hustles: 1. Pro: Career clarity on demand. 'Gen AI acts like a career GPS, helping Gen Zers uncover paths they might not see on their own. Especially for those early in their careers or lacking strong networks, it can surface adjacent roles, conceptualize bold pivots and re-frame personal experience into new opportunities. It's a powerful tool for navigating change and building confidence in uncertain markets.' 2. Con: Accuracy is an afterthought. 'Let's be blunt: AI still hallucinates. Worse, some newer models are hallucinating more, not less. AI companies are prioritizing speed and scale when it comes to improving the models, leaving accuracy as an afterthought. It's purely reckless. When it comes to planning a high-stakes business venture, Gen Zers should use AI as an ideation and experimentation partner, not a decision maker.' 3. Pro: Instant acceleration. 'AI does in hours what used to take weeks. It's a one-person startup engine, on-demand, 24/7. Though they may not be as good as human experts at teasing out the nuances of certain business topics, LLMs can nonetheless help GenZers extend their knowledge base in pursuit of new career and business opportunities. Chatbots are always available to offer the perspective of multiple specialists and aggregate and summarize data from varied sources to provide a snapshot of what's trending. For execution, AI tools can help with rapid prototyping and mockups, plus first drafts of pitch decks, websites and logos to help any side hustle quickly get off the ground.' 4. Con: The illusion of genius. 'Gen AI sounds confident, even when it's wrong. It blends ideas from across the internet, often without nuance, originality or an ethical filter. Novel business ideas or strategies might also trip up LLMs, which could encourage GenZers to launch a concept before it is ready, inadvertently infringe on copyrighted material or even wade into ethically gray areas to accomplish business goals.' According to Kurtzig, Gen Z's entrepreneurial instinct is right, but long-term success won't come from AI alone. He adds that AI lowers the barrier to entry-level startups, but not the bar for success. He insists that side hustles still require hustle. AI can't replace intuition, ethics or real-world experience. He concludes that the future isn't AI or human – it's AI plus human.
Associated Press
24-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Buy Online, Avoid People? GoDaddy Survey Uncovers New Gen Z & Millennial Shopping Habits
Originally published on GoDaddy Newsroom TEMPE, Ariz., May 23, 2025 /3BL/ - A new survey by GoDaddy (NYSE: GDDY) found the latest quirky shopping habits Gen Z and Millennials have adopted are changing the landscape of commerce — with some possibly unintended consequences. In the latest GoDaddy Consumer Pulse* survey of 1,500 U.S. consumers, half of Gen Z (54%) and Millennials (50%) polled in March prefer shopping methods that allow them to avoid other people, like Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store, self-checkout or online shopping, over shopping methods that let them interact with others. Fewer than 1 in 3 (29%) Gen X and Boomers feel the same way. Younger consumers' priorities appear to starkly contrast with older generations. The new data shows night-and-day differences in the ways these younger generations shop. 'Gen Z and Millennials want to shop online from their phones and be left alone, which makes providing an automated, personalized, yet hands-off experience for consumers all the more vital,' said Alex Avramenko, head of commerce growth at GoDaddy. 'Is your online store truly mobile-friendly? Is it easy to find options for digital wallet payments or in-store pickup? These aren't just trends. Consumers have consistently shown their desire for simple, convenient ways to shop and pay will make or break a sale, and small businesses need to adopt this new vision of what doing business looks like.' The different generations do agree on some things. The data is clear—to capture consumer sales, small businesses need to sell online. This means businesses with a brick-and-mortar store need to sell both online and in-person. Small businesses that don't have an online store can tap into the power of AI and use GoDaddy Airo ® to build a website, generate a digital product catalog and more in minutes. For retailers looking for ways to provide more online conveniences, GoDaddy offers user-friendly smart point-of-sale terminals to enable younger consumer favorites like Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store and Tap-to-Pay. To learn more about GoDaddy and its products, visit *GoDaddy Consumer Pulse is a series of surveys of consumers ages 18 and above conducted throughout the year. About GoDaddyGoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a website and logo, sell their products and services and accept payments. GoDaddy Airo®, the company's AI-powered experience, makes growing a small business faster and easier by helping them to get their idea online in minutes, drive traffic and boost sales. GoDaddy's expert guides are available 24/7 to provide assistance. To learn more about the company, visit Source: GoDaddy Inc. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from GoDaddy
Fibre2Fashion
17-05-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
54% of Gen Z in US choose people-free shopping: Survey
Half of Gen Z (54 per cent) and millennials (50 per cent) polled in in the US prefer shopping methods that allow them to avoid other people, like buy online, pick up in-store, self-checkout or online shopping, over shopping methods that let them interact with others, as per the latest GoDaddy Consumer Pulse survey. Fewer than 1 in 3 (29 per cent) Gen X and boomers feel the same way. Younger consumers, particularly Gen Z and millennials, are redefining shopping behaviours, often diverging sharply from their older counterparts. A notable shift is seen in customer service preferences, with 15 per cent of Gen Z and 10 per cent of millennials favouring chatbots over human representatives, compared to just 3 per cent of Gen X and boomers. Convenience plays a key role in their habits, as a significant majority of Gen Z (86 per cent) and millennials (76 per cent) regularly opt for online purchases with curbside or in-store pickup, while over half of Gen X and Boomers (51 per cent) never use this method. Financial flexibility is also more common among younger consumers, with about 4 in 10 Gen Z (39 per cent) and millennials (43 per cent) using Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) for unaffordable items, versus only 22 per cent of older generations, as per the survey conducted on 1,500 US consumers. Additionally, shopping during work hours is prevalent among Gen Z (54 per cent) and millennials (50 per cent), a stark contrast to just 18 per cent of Gen X and Boomers. Digital wallets are another area of generational divide, with over half of Gen Z (54 per cent) and a significant portion of millennials (41 per cent) abandoning purchases if digital payment options aren't accepted—far more than the 17 per cent of older shoppers who report the same. Younger consumers, especially Gen Z and millennials, prioritise convenience, digital tools, and minimal interaction when shopping, unlike older generations, as per the latest GoDaddy Consumer Pulse survey of 1,500 US consumers. While generational differences are clear, all consumers value ease at checkout and still often carry physical wallets. Interestingly, 10 per cent of Gen Z exclusively use their phones to pay and 5 per cent no longer carry physical wallets, while over a quarter (27 per cent) of Gen X and boomers have never used a digital wallet. Lastly, return policies are sometimes manipulated, with around 1 in 4 younger consumers admitting to lying to facilitate a return, compared to just 11 per cent of Gen X and boomers. These insights underscore the growing generational divide in shopping behaviours, driven by convenience, technology, and shifting values, the survey found. "Gen Z and millennials want to shop online from their phones and be left alone, which makes providing an automated, personalised, yet hands-off experience for consumers all the more vital," said Alex Avramenko, head of commerce growth at GoDaddy . "Is your online store truly mobile-friendly? Is it easy to find options for digital wallet payments or in-store pickup? These aren't just trends. Consumers have consistently shown their desire for simple, convenient ways to shop and pay will make or break a sale, and small businesses need to adopt this new vision of what doing business looks like." Despite the stark generational differences in shopping behaviour, there are areas where consumers across age groups find common ground. One shared frustration lies in the checkout experience—over half (51 per cent) of all consumers have felt anxious when paying in person due to confusing or unfamiliar point-of-sale (POS) devices. This anxiety is more prevalent among younger generations, with 66 per cent of Gen Z and 58 per cent of millennials reporting discomfort, compared to 44 per cent of Gen X and boomers. Another area of agreement is the continued relevance of physical wallets. While digital payment adoption is growing, the majority (59 per cent) of consumers still carry a physical wallet and use credit cards when shopping in person. That said, 41 per cent do use their phones at least occasionally for in-person purchases, indicating a gradual shift in payment behaviour. When it comes to making large online purchases of $150 or more, smartphones have overtaken laptops as the preferred device, with 56 per cent of consumers opting to shop on their phones. This trend is especially strong among younger consumers—70 per cent of Gen Z and 63 per cent of millennials prefer smartphones, compared to 49 per cent of Gen X and boomers, stated the report. Finally, while parking convenience is a consideration for some, it's not a dealbreaker for most. A majority of consumers (61 per cent) said that a lack of nearby parking does not deter them from shopping at a particular store, though 39 per cent do consider it a barrier. These shared perspectives show that while generational preferences vary, common consumer experiences still unite shoppers of all ages, the survey said. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buy Online, Avoid People? GoDaddy Survey Uncovers New Gen Z & Millennial Shopping Habits
GoDaddy Consumer Pulse highlights ways younger shoppers bend the rules in commerce TEMPE, Ariz., May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey by GoDaddy (NYSE: GDDY) found the latest quirky shopping habits Gen Z and Millennials have adopted are changing the landscape of commerce — with some possibly unintended consequences. In the latest GoDaddy Consumer Pulse* survey of 1,500 U.S. consumers, half of Gen Z (54%) and Millennials (50%) polled in March prefer shopping methods that allow them to avoid other people, like Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store, self-checkout or online shopping, over shopping methods that let them interact with others. Fewer than 1 in 3 (29%) Gen X and Boomers feel the same way. Younger consumers' priorities appear to starkly contrast with older generations. The new data shows night-and-day differences in the ways these younger generations shop. Bots over humans: 15% of Gen Z and 10% of Millennials prefer talking to a chatbot over a human customer service representative, compared to 3% of Gen X and Boomers. Curbside pickup or bust: The majority of Gen Z (86%) and Millennials (76%) purchase items online for in-store or curbside pickup at least once per month, with 1 in 4 Gen Z (23%) and Millennials (27%) doing so weekly. This is in contrast to half of Gen X and Boomers (51%) who never purchase items online to pick up at or in the store. Budgetless shopping: About 4 in 10 Gen Z (39%) and Millennials (43%) have used Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) to purchase items they couldn't afford, compared to 22% of Gen X and Boomers. Only 16% of consumers have never used BNPL. Working hard or hardly working? Gen Z and Millennials shopping habits know no time bounds, particularly during the workday. Half of Gen Z (54%) and Millennials (50%) report they shop online while at work, compared to only 18% of Gen X and Boomers. Digital wallets > credit cards: 54% of Gen Z and 41% of Millennials have skipped completing a purchase due to a business not accepting digital wallets, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, compared to Gen X or Boomers (17%). 1 in 10 (10%) Gen Z only use their phone to pay for items when shopping in-person, with 5% of Gen Z reporting they don't even carry a physical wallet anymore. In contrast, more than 1 in 4 (27%) Gen X and Boomers have never used digital wallets. Big or little lies? Around 1 in 4 Gen Z (27%) and Millennials (25%) said they have lied to be able to return an item they purchased, compared to 11% of Gen X and Boomers. "Gen Z and Millennials want to shop online from their phones and be left alone, which makes providing an automated, personalized, yet hands-off experience for consumers all the more vital," said Alex Avramenko, head of commerce growth at GoDaddy. "Is your online store truly mobile-friendly? Is it easy to find options for digital wallet payments or in-store pickup? These aren't just trends. Consumers have consistently shown their desire for simple, convenient ways to shop and pay will make or break a sale, and small businesses need to adopt this new vision of what doing business looks like." The different generations do agree on some things. POS devices could be more user-friendly: More than half (51%) of consumers have felt anxious when paying for items in-person because of the point-of-sale (POS) device at the checkout, most commonly because they weren't sure how to use the device. This was felt more strongly by younger consumers, with 66% of Gen Z and 58% of Millennials and 44% of Gen X and Boomers feeling anxious at checkouts. The physical wallet still reigns in retail: When shopping in-person, most consumers (59%) report carrying a physical wallet and exclusively paying with physical credit cards. However, 41% of consumers at least occasionally use their phone to pay for goods in-person. Death of the laptop: More than half (56%) of consumers choose to use their phone when making larger online purchases of $150 or more, whereas only 36% would use their laptop, and just 8% prefer a tablet. Younger consumers are slightly more likely to prefer shop on their phones, with 70% of Gen Z and 63% of Millennials preferring to pay via a smartphone, vs. 49% of Gen X and Boomers. Parking is not a dealbreaker: Most consumers (61%) said a lack of easy parking nearby does not factor into whether they will shop at a store. Although some people care about parking a lot. 4 in 10 shoppers (39%) report that they will not shop at that store that doesn't have easy parking nearby. The data is clear—to capture consumer sales, small businesses need to sell online. This means businesses with a brick-and-mortar store need to sell both online and in-person. Small businesses that don't have an online store can tap into the power of AI and use GoDaddy Airo® to build a website, generate a digital product catalog and more in minutes. For retailers looking for ways to provide more online conveniences, GoDaddy offers user-friendly smart point-of-sale terminals to enable younger consumer favorites like Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store and Tap-to-Pay. To learn more about GoDaddy and its products, visit *GoDaddy Consumer Pulse is a series of surveys of consumers ages 18 and above conducted throughout the year. About GoDaddyGoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a website and logo, sell their products and services and accept payments. GoDaddy Airo®, the company's AI-powered experience, makes growing a small business faster and easier by helping them to get their idea online in minutes, drive traffic and boost sales. GoDaddy's expert guides are available 24/7 to provide assistance. To learn more about the company, visit Source: GoDaddy Inc. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE GoDaddy Inc.
