Gen Z’s getting personal with AI

The first time I heard of someone using ChatGPT for life advice was ~2 years ago. 

My friend wasn’t happy with his high finance job, despite being a top performer. He’s the type of overachiever plagued by an equal mix of competence and critical thinking skills – meaning he’s always questioning the purpose of what he’s doing. 

Naturally, he decided to quit his job, pose as a photojournalist, and document the war in Ukraine. At the end of his 2-week stint, he got off the plane and came straight to my house for an Alison Roman-style brunch party. He accepted a mimosa and smoked salmon bagel, eyes glazed over.   

When I finally caught him mid-party, I asked him how he was doing. 

💬 Him (staring into the void): I think I want to be a paramedic and move to Ukraine. 

💬 Me: Uhhhh.

@smfenton

Everytime 😂✌🏻 #girls #brunch #nightout #funny #viral #uk

ChatGPT didn’t explicitly tell him to do this, but it played an important role in questioning his life decisions. He laid out all his skills, interests, and values and asked ChatGPT to brainstorm entirely new career paths. He carefully considered its suggestions: war correspondent, air traffic controller, emergency surgeon, and paramedic.    

Damn, maybe I should try that, I thought.

How common is it to use ChatGPT for personal problems?

I wanted to research young people’s willingness to turn to AI in the face of personal issues – because I do it all the time. 

I ask when to flag something to my boss, to sense check distorted thoughts, and to advise me when to see a doctor for a cold.

And I’m not alone. 

In the US, the people most receptive to AI-based diagnoses and recommended treatments are 18-29-year-olds (44% vs. 38% compared to the average population).

More generally, UK internet regulator Ofcom found 22% of people aged 16+ turn to AI for advice, the third most popular use case, with teenagers being the most likely to adopt AI tools in the first place (79% vs. 31% of adults). ChatGPT is the most popular one.

What advice are they getting?

There’s limited research on how young people engage with ChatGPT in their personal lives. So, we asked our Gen Z audience who they turn to most often in the following scenarios: 

• ⛰️ For career or life advice

• 💕 For relationship or dating advice

• 🫂 For mental health support

• 🎽 For physical health or fitness advice

• 🎥 For personal recommendations (e.g. books, films)

Roughly 4 in 10 respondents turn to ChatGPT in at least one of those scenarios and 50% do so at least once a month. Still, respondents are much more likely to seek advice from friends, family, and professionals.

Complement, don’t replace

The takeaway is not that AI will replace humans – it won’t. Humans offer things ChatGPT can’t. And vice versa. 

Here are some of the things ChatGPT does better than people:

• ⏰ Availability: You can access it 24/7.

• 💰 Accessibility: It’s free or at least cheaper than any human-equivalent service.

• 🤫 Anonymity: It’s a judgment-free sanctuary for your thoughts (can’t wait for the next Cambridge Analytica).

… And here’s what it does worse:

• 🗣️ Emotional intelligence: It can’t read your body language or tone the way your loved ones or a professional can.

• 💻 Uninspiring: It can’t relate to anything you’re going through.

• 👽 Being creepy: The idea of AI replacing human bonds is disturbing to most people.

Honestly, Gen Z turning to AI for additional support isn’t a bad thing. Especially, when these are the questions they’re asking:

So what?

💡 For marketers & builders

• TLDR… Young people value AI for its guidance, not just its personalization and knowledge.

• Ask yourself… When should recommendations be automated vs. human-led?

• Check this out… IDEO tested 6 hypothetical AI products and services with Gen Z audiences to understand their relationship with AI.

🫂 For parents & advocates

• TLDR… Your kids would still rather come to you for advice and guidance.

• Ask yourself… How can I be more available, accessible, and non-judgemental during big moments of reflection?

• Check this out… A deep dive on teenagers and GenAI usage from Common Sense Media.

🤳 For Gen Z

• TLDR… AI complements, not replaces, your personal relationships.

• Ask yourself… Do you feel different after confiding in AI vs. a friend?

• Check this out… A psychiatrist dissects whether AI can and should replace therapists.

– Your Internet Translator