Featuring scholarly and practitioner insights from HR and people leaders, industry experts, and researchers.

Recent research highlights a paradoxical decline in AI confidence among Generation Z, despite their status as digital natives with increasing access to these tools. While younger workers and students recognize the professional necessity of artificial intelligence, their enthusiasm has plummeted as concerns grow regarding the technology's impact on critical thinking and creativity. Organizations face a significant credibility gap, as many early-career individuals report heightened anxiety and skepticism toward AI-assisted workflows. To bridge this divide, the research suggests that leaders must move beyond merely providing software and instead prioritize transparent communication, ethical frameworks, and human-centered training. Ultimately, the research argue that sustainable adoption depends on fostering psychological safety and ensuring that technology serves as a developmental scaffold rather than a replacement for human judgment.

In this HCI Webinar, I talk with Jason Greer about navigating employee relations in the modern world of work. Jason Greer is the founder and president of Greer Consulting, Inc., a labor management and employee relations consulting firm based in St. Louis. As a nationally recognized expert in the field, Jason is a trusted source of information on the latest race and labor relations news for media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and FOX News Radio. He provides valuable insight into breaking stories such as the George Floyd moment, racial protests, and diversity issues in the workplace.

Abstract: Generation Z workers exhibit a counterintuitive relationship with artificial intelligence characterized by increased exposure yet declining confidence and deteriorating sentiment. Despite representing the cohort most likely to shape AI adoption trajectories over the coming decade, Gen Z demonstrates plateauing usage patterns, diminishing enthusiasm, and heightened skepticism regarding AI's impact on core cognitive capabilities and professional development. Drawing on recent survey research from the Walton Family Foundation, GSV Ventures, and Gallup alongside organizational behavior literature, this article examines the multi-dimensional nature of Gen Z's AI ambivalence. Analysis reveals that while just over half of 14- to 29-year-olds engage with generative AI weekly, negative emotions have intensified substantially, with excitement dropping 14 percentage points and anger rising 9 points year-over-year. The article synthesizes evidence on Gen Z's concerns regarding creativity, critical thinking, learning efficacy, and workplace risks, then proposes evidence-based organizational responses centered on transparent communication, competency-building frameworks, human-AI collaboration models, and developmental support systems. Findings suggest that organizations prioritizing genuine AI literacy over mere access will be better positioned to build trust and sustainable adoption among emerging workforce cohorts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Recent research highlights a paradoxical decline in AI confidence among Generation Z, despite their status as digital natives with increasing access to these tools. While younger workers and students recognize the professional necessity of artificial intelligence, their enthusiasm has plummeted as concerns grow regarding the technology's impact on critical thinking and creativity. Organizations face a significant credibility gap, as many early-career individuals report heightened anxiety and skepticism toward AI-assisted workflows. To bridge this divide, the research suggests that leaders must move beyond merely providing software and instead prioritize transparent communication, ethical frameworks, and human-centered training. Ultimately, the research argue that sustainable adoption depends on fostering psychological safety and ensuring that technology serves as a developmental scaffold rather than a replacement for human judgment. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Recent research highlights a paradoxical decline in AI confidence among Generation Z, despite their status as digital natives with increasing access to these tools. While younger workers and students recognize the professional necessity of artificial intelligence, their enthusiasm has plummeted as concerns grow regarding the technology's impact on critical thinking and creativity. Organizations face a significant credibility gap, as many early-career individuals report heightened anxiety and skepticism toward AI-assisted workflows. To bridge this divide, the research suggests that leaders must move beyond merely providing software and instead prioritize transparent communication, ethical frameworks, and human-centered training. Ultimately, the research argue that sustainable adoption depends on fostering psychological safety and ensuring that technology serves as a developmental scaffold rather than a replacement for human judgment. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Recent research highlights a paradoxical decline in AI confidence among Generation Z, despite their status as digital natives with increasing access to these tools. While younger workers and students recognize the professional necessity of artificial intelligence, their enthusiasm has plummeted as concerns grow regarding the technology's impact on critical thinking and creativity. Organizations face a significant credibility gap, as many early-career individuals report heightened anxiety and skepticism toward AI-assisted workflows. To bridge this divide, the research suggests that leaders must move beyond merely providing software and instead prioritize transparent communication, ethical frameworks, and human-centered training. Ultimately, the research argue that sustainable adoption depends on fostering psychological safety and ensuring that technology serves as a developmental scaffold rather than a replacement for human judgment. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Jason Greer about navigating employee relations in the modern world of work. Jason Greer is the founder and president of Greer Consulting, Inc., a labor management and employee relations consulting firm based in St. Louis. As a nationally recognized expert in the field, Jason is a trusted source of information on the latest race and labor relations news for media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and FOX News Radio. He provides valuable insight into breaking stories such as the George Floyd moment, racial protests, and diversity issues in the workplace. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this HCI Webinar, I talk with Justin Jones-Fosu about his book, I Respectfully Disagree: How to Have Difficult Conversations in a Divided World. Justin Jones-Fosu is the embodiment of energy, both at home as a dedicated father to two spirited children and atop the world's highest peaks, having recently conquered one of the famed 7 Summits. But Justin's passion for elevation doesn't end with trekking, it's mirrored in his professional ascent as a captivating business speaker, innovative social entrepreneur, and insightful workplace researcher. At the helm of Work. Meaningful., Justin is the driving force and CEO behind a movement that empowers organizations across the globe, delivering over 50 keynote addresses a year on the pivotal topics of meaningful work and inclusion. His mission is to ignite a transformation in corporate culture, guiding organizations and individuals to ascend to their peak potential through mastery of mindset, purpose, and performance. Justin is not only a pathfinder in the wilderness but also in the literary world, authoring essential reads such as "Your WHY Matters NOW," "The Inclusive Mindset," and his latest thought-provoker, “I Respectfully Disagree: How to have Difficult Conversations in a Divided World.” His work is a compass for those seeking direction on creating connections in an often-fragmented society. With a flair for infusing humor into his well-researched content, Justin doesn't just give a speech; he crafts an experience, leaving his audience not just informed but transformed. His approach is not merely to inform but to inspire, not just to direct but to make a difference.