22-05-2025
Gen Z Would Rather Ask Chat GPT for Help Than Their Boss
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Gen Z has grown up in an age of new technology. That includes artificial intelligence, which has infiltrated the workplace, from job applications and interviews to even mentorship.
According to a new report from 49 percent of Gen Zers say they rely more on Chat GPT for help than their boss. Roughly 47 percent of millennials said the same.
Why It Matters
The rise of artificial intelligence chatbots such as ChatGPT has raised concerns in education and the workplace.
While many schools have banned the use of AI on assignments, many companies have moved full speed ahead with AI tools to increase productivity and streamline operations.
A close-up of a smartphone displaying the ChatGPT logo on a white screen, with the same ChatGPT logo shown on a laptop screen on February 19, 2025, in Chongqing, China.
A close-up of a smartphone displaying the ChatGPT logo on a white screen, with the same ChatGPT logo shown on a laptop screen on February 19, 2025, in Chongqing, To Know
Individual employees at work are often experimenting with AI to see if they can improve their efficiency or even just craft an appropriate email correspondence to a colleague.
For Gen Z, AI in the workplace may be replacing the conversations they once had with their bosses, as 49 percent say they rely more on Chat GPT for help than their boss, according to That was similar to millennials who said the same, at 47 percent.
The survey of 8,647 full-time U.S. workers revealed that across the board, 11 percent of workers used ChatGPT regularly. However, Gen Zers were twice as likely to use the tool at 21 percent.
Older generations are much less likely to integrate AI into their workflows, as only 9 percent of Gen X and just 6 percent of baby boomers said they used ChatGPT regularly.
Altogether, 40 percent of workers said they rely more on ChatGPT than their boss to answer questions.
"Gen Z workers have grown up with instant access to information, so it's no surprise they turn to AI before turning to a manager," Career Coach Irina Pichura said in the report. "For them, ChatGPT offers fast, judgment-free answers, which can feel more efficient and comfortable than approaching a supervisor, especially in remote or high-pressure environments."
What People Are Saying
Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "Gen Z sees ChatGPT as a good option and assistant. This is a highly practical option versus asking your boss for the answer. This could also help show initiative in regard to processes allowing you to focus your attention in areas while adding significant time savings."
Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "Over the past two years, we've seen administration at many employers stretched further and further, with many in leadership getting more employees that report to them and fewer hours to assist. While there certainly could be cases of Gen Z taking decision-making into their own hands with AI, the reality probably is they're using it for basic decision-making because their manager is slower to respond to some requests. When you have immediate needs and are looking for solutions that follow your employer's protocols, AI can be a simple and easy way to generate a decision without waiting for long periods of time for your manager to reply."
HR consultant Bryan Driscoll told Newsweek: "Many younger workers today see how speaking up can get you labeled as a difficult employee, how asking too many questions makes you look incompetent, and how managers often don't have the time or emotional intelligence to manage people effectively. AI doesn't condescend—unless you ask it to— and it doesn't micromanage or make you feel stupid for not knowing something.
What Happens Next
While older generations may view Gen Z's AI use as a lack of work ethic, Driscoll said they often weren't dealing with "toxic bosses in a 24/7 surveillance culture."
"Gen Z is just adapting to a system that doesn't prioritize their growth or well-being," Driscoll said. "If managers don't step up—and if companies don't give managers the space and time to step up—relevance and trust will continue to erode."
While AI can be a major time saver for all workers, it can also lead to cost savings for business and the end of inefficient meetings, Thompson said. However, Gen Z should be wary of some AI developments happening at businesses.
"A huge warning for Gen Z: Businesses are asking Gen Z to program AI for their business," Thompson said, "while Gen Z may not realize they are creating their replacement."
