upGrad Enterprise, the corporate skilling and workforce development division of online skilling giant upGrad, has unveiled an extensive study titled ‘The GenAI Gap: GenZ & the Modern Workplace’. This study explores how GenZ professionals adopt Generative AI (GenAI) in the workplace and the implications for organizations.
The report examines GenZ’s usage habits, attitudes, and expectations about GenAI, drawing on information from over 3,500 GenZ professionals from various backgrounds and over 1,000 HR leaders. It also emphasizes the importance of enterprises in creating a GenAI-friendly mindset among their employees.
The findings reveal that GenZ professionals are optimistic and forward-thinking regarding GenAI. 1 in 2 GenZs believe that GenAI will play a supportive, if not central, role in their careers over the next 5 years. Adoption rates are high, with 73% of GenZ already integrating GenAI into their daily tasks and 72% relying on GenAI-produced outputs with minimal edits—clear evidence that this generation sees GenAI as an integral part of their daily workflows. Interestingly, GenZ demonstrates greater environmental consciousness, being three times more concerned about GenAI’s ecological impact than organizations.
Some of the other key findings include:
Concerns Over Job Security
Despite some concerns about job security, 65% of GenZ are optimistic about the potential in the workplace. Furthermore, 77% of GenZ observe GenAI as a driver of innovation and career advancement. There is a significant gap between GenZ’s expectations and the actual state of GenAI implementation. While GenZ professionals are eager to use GenAI, they face fragmented guidelines and inconsistent training at work.
Utilizing AI to Make Decisions
According to the research, 56% of GenZ prefer to seek guidance from GenAI over their managers because of its constant accessibility and perceived impartiality. While 54% of GenZ respondents express that their current organizational guidelines on GenAI are inadequate, this highlights the need for companies to develop a clear AI policy and comprehensive training.
Unclear Work Situation
52% of GenZ respondents report a lack of clarity about their workplace GenAI training programmes, with some stating that updates are rare or nonexistent. This highlights the pervasive lack of access to upskilling possibilities in the modern workplace. Only 21% of HR professionals are comfortable using GenAI for regulatory training, emphasizing the necessity for compliance-focused tools.
The study comes after upGrad Enterprise revealed its comprehensive look at the realities and concerns of sales professionals, revealing some stark findings that emphasize the skills gap. The current edition adds additional dimension by highlighting a new generation of professionals, reflecting India’s rising adaptability to AI, and reflecting the larger objectives of GenZ professionals who see GenAI as a path to innovative and efficient workflows.
Commenting on the trends and the need to draw such a report, Srikanth Iyengar, CEO of upGrad Enterprise, said:
Years of close collaboration with global organizations and GCCs have given us unique insights into the opportunities and challenges faced by professionals and even companies who are planning their growth strategies. Therefore, we have leveraged our expertise to design this report, offering an in-depth look into the current landscape – highlighting how GenZ is embracing AI and the urgent need for organizations to establish supportive policies and implement targeted training. upGrad Enterprise is committed to equipping the global corporate ecosystem with real skills and tool capabilities that will add value to their careers and business success in an AI-powered world.
About upGrad Enterprise
upGrad Enterprise empowers high-growth organizations by unlocking their talent’s full potential, driving peak performance in an ever-evolving business landscape. With over 10 years of experience, the company has partnered with over 800 global clients and impacted over 10 million learners across 70+ countries, becoming India’s largest enterprise learning partner. Its offerings include corporate upskilling, government projects, and a train-and-deploy model for Global Capability Centers (GCCs) of leading and Fortune 500 brands, strengthening organizational leadership with new-age skill sets as they spread their footprint across Indian metropolitan cities. These solutions span the employee lifecycle to facilitate digital and business transformation in alignment with organizational goals, leading to capability building and value generation.
