Just a couple years ago, artificial intelligence (more commonly recognized as AI) felt like something reserved for high-end tech companies or the pages of a sci-fi novel. Now? It’s in our browsers, our inboxes, and… my daughter’s high school backpack?
She’s 16, part of Gen Z that was the first to grow up with the influence of smartphones and rapidly evolving technology. When I casually asked her if she uses AI tools such as ChatGPT, she didn’t hesitate to say: “Of course. Everyone does.”
This answer stuck with me. Not because she’s using AI, but because of how normal it seemed to be for her.
As someone working in an industry rapidly adapting to AI, I couldn’t help but wonder: How are today’s high schoolers using AI? What is their mindset? Are they ahead of us in understanding the potential of AI? And so, I went straight to investigate. I spoke with a few high school students, including my daughter, to learn how AI fits into their daily lives. What I found was amazing.
Here are 5 questions I asked high school students (ages 15-18) about their AI experience. Their answers weren’t just insightful; they were surprisingly honest and mature.
Q: How do you use AI in your daily life, if at all?
A: I use AI in so many ways that I almost forget that I’m doing it. For school, I’ll use ChatGPT to help me outline essays or assignments, rephrase sentences, or check for grammar. It’s basically like having a tutor available to help 24/7. I also use AI for non-academic purposes, such as coming up with gift ideas for a friend’s birthday. I still have to think critically, but AI helps get the wheels turning. It saves time and makes me feel more confident in what I produce.
Q: Do your teachers encourage you to use AI?
A: It depends on the teacher. Some prohibit AI usage and classify it as academic dishonesty, which is understandable, while others are more open-minded and actually want us to learn how to use it responsibly. One of my English teachers had a lesson in which we compared a student-produced essay to an AI-generated one and analyzed the differences. It was interesting because it showed us that AI can sound smart, but lacks depth and personal voice. That experience taught me that AI shouldn’t replace our thinking, it should rather enhance it. Ultimately, the best teachers don’t ignore AI; they teach us how to use it wisely.
Q: Do you feel that AI is making you more or less creative?
A: Honestly, it makes me more creative, but in a different way than I initially expected. It’s like having a brainstorming partner who doesn’t judge any weird ideas. I’ll ask it to generate ideas for assignments or ways I can improve a current idea. It helps me think outside the box, especially when I feel stuck in approaching an assignment. But I obviously do not copy exactly what AI gives me. I add my own twist to the idea, making it into my own. I see AI as a tool that helps me stretch my imagination further. It’s still my voice and my project, and AI just adds a little bit of flavor to it.
Q: What’s your biggest concern about AI?
A: I worry about people over relying on AI. When people start to make AI do all of their thinking and assignments for them, that’s when it gets dangerous. I also think there’s a risk that we won’t develop deep skills like writing, problem-solving, or empathy if we depend on AI too early. It’s easy to lose your instincts when you outsource everything. At the same time, I also think it’s up to us to set boundaries.
Q: How do you think AI will change the world by the time you’re my age?
A: I think AI will be everywhere. Not just on computers, but in the forms of robots and other ways that integrate into how we interact with each other and the world. It’ll change jobs and the workforce for sure, as some jobs may disappear and others may emerge. But the biggest change will probably be how we think. We’ll need to be even more adaptable, emotionally intelligent, and able to tell what’s real and what’s not. Honestly, I think our generation will be okay, because we’re growing up with it. We just want to understand it better so we can use it without losing ourselves.
Talking to these students, including my daughter, was very inspiring.
We often hear critiques about Gen Z being too screen-dependent, too distracted, and too reliant on technology. But these conversations told a different story: one of resourcefulness, adaptability, maturity, and a surprising amount of wisdom.
Gen Z isn’t just consuming AI. They’re shaping how we all interact with it.
As a professional, I’m rethinking how we train, hire, and lead in a world where this generation will soon be our colleagues.
If you work in tech, education, HR, or frankly anywhere, now is the time to start listening to Gen Z, learn from them and teach them to be next best AI reshapers.
Not just because they’re the future, but because they already know how to navigate it.
HAPPY LEARNING
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