Gen Z Uses AI the Most — and Pays the Highest Price

The workers most enthusiastic about AI are also the ones losing the most from it. Gen Z adopts AI at higher rates than any other generation — 83% of them use it at work, and many rely on it for more than half their daily tasks. Yet the data shows they're facing steeper wage declines and more job displacement than their older colleagues. Meanwhile, experienced workers who use AI more selectively are seeing their careers amplified. An analysis from 2026 found experienced AI users earn a wage premium of 22% on average. Gen Z AI users? Minus 8%. In this episode, we break down the paradox, why AI skips the training ground that builds real judgment, and what HR leaders need to do differently for their youngest employees before the skills gap widens further.