Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
Angela Howard – Culture Expert
Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
Gen Z’s relationship with AI chatbots is going far beyond task completion. According to a new survey from Resume.org, many young professionals are spending substantial time with tools like ChatGPT during — and outside — their workday, often for reasons unrelated to productivity.
Resume.org surveyed 1,000 full-time U.S. Gen Z workers who had used an AI chatbot such as ChatGPT or Copilot in the past week.
ChatGPT Is Becoming a Daily Companion
During a typical workday, 43% of Gen Z workers say they spend at least 30 minutes chatting with AI. About 13% report one to two hours of daily use, 6% use it for two to four hours, and 5% go beyond four hours a day. Outside of work, one in five continue chatting with AI for 30–60 minutes, while one in four spend an hour or more.
Despite the heavy usage, only 5% say they don’t use it outside work at all on a daily basis.
AI Isn’t Just for Work — It’s for Breaks, Venting, and Distraction
While 77% of respondents use AI for job-related tasks, many turn to it during the workday for personal reasons. Nearly half say they use it to talk about non-work topics, 38% use it for entertainment or breaks, and 15% admit they use it to look busy when they’re not actually working.
Another third use it to talk through work-related stress or frustrations.
Many Say It’s Making Them More Productive
Even as usage veers into personal territory, the majority believe AI helps their work. About 77% report being more productive because of it, with one-third describing themselves as “much more productive” and 44% saying they’re “somewhat more productive.”
AI Is Replacing Coworker Chats, And Even Bosses
Six in 10 Gen Zers say they talk to AI as much or more than they talk to their coworkers. When asked who they interact with more, 22% say AI, 37% say about the same, and only 41% say coworkers.
Nearly half say AI chatbots know them better than their boss. A quarter believe AI knows them better than their coworkers, and a significant number even say it knows them better than their friends (13%) or family (11%).
Some Are Confiding in AI More Than People
One in three Gen Z workers say they’ve told AI something they’ve never told another person. For many, these aren’t one-off moments: 16% say they frequently discuss personal topics like mental health or relationships with AI, while 33% say they do so occasionally.
When asked how they view their chatbot, only 47% describe it as a simple “tool.” The rest consider it something more: 27% say it’s their assistant, 13% say it’s a friend, 9% say it’s a therapist or coach, and 3% call it a coworker.
The New First Stop for Information? Not Google
When they need answers, Gen Z workers aren’t defaulting to search engines. While 47% still turn to Google, 39% now say they use AI first. Just 14% rely on social media.
When asked why, respondents cite the chatbot’s clarity (63%), detail (56%), speed (56%), and ease of understanding (55%). Many also value its lack of judgment (33%) and privacy (29%).
A Digital Tool or a Substitute for Real Connection?
Resume.org’s findings expose the emotional role AI plays for a generation raised on digital interaction and now navigating hybrid work environments. As Gen Z leans further into chatbots for emotional support and everyday problem-solving, it raises new questions about how they build — and sustain — human relationships at work.
