iHire: Millennials are ‘AI power users’ – yet 39% fear the tool could replace them

AI adoption is increasing, yet different demographics are adopting the technology at different rates, according to research from employment platform iHire.

The research, which included 1,645 US workers from the Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomer age demographic, found that the younger generations are the most likely to use AI tools – such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity – in their job searches.

However, Gen Z and Millennials are the demographics showing the most concern about AI’s potential to replace them, as well as demonstrating higher levels of hesitancy to embrace the technology.

In an exclusive conversation with Kyle Gamble, VP of Product at iHire, UNLEASH explores more.

How are different generations responding to AI?

Gen Z (52.3%) and Millennials (54.4%) were found to be the generations most likely to use AI in their job searches, compared to Gen X (37.4%) and Baby Boomers (18.5%).

However, the older generations may be planning to catch up, as both Baby Boomers (43.2%) and Gen X (39.1%) shared that although they’re yet to use the tool in their job search, they plan to in the future.

AI was most commonly used to create resumes (19.0%), customize resumes for specific job (16.2%), create cover letters (14.3%), research potential employers (11.6%) and to prepare for interviews (11.5%). 

This being said, Millennials were found to be the most worried about AI’s impact, with 39.3% expressing “extremely” or “very” concerned about the tool threatening their role.

Gen Z followed closely behind, as 36.6% admitted to being “extremely” or “very” concerned, and 31.2% were “somewhat” concerned. 

We were surprised to see that younger generations expressed greater apprehension about AI than older age groups, despite adopting the technology in their job searches at a more rapid pace,” Gamble notes.

“Millennials, in particular, showed an interesting relationship with AI. They are power users, reporting the highest usage rate across all job search applications, but are the generation that is most worried about AI.

“We also found that Baby Boomers and Gen X are interested in using AI even though they’re reporting lower adoption rates. Specifically, 43% of Baby Boomers and 39% of Gen Xers who have never used AI in their job search plan to use it in the near future.”

While expressing eagerness to use the tool in the future, 32.8% of Gen X felt “extremely” or “very” concerned about AI, with 27.6% stating they were “not at all concerned.” 

Yet the most significant number of those “not at all” concerned about AI replacing them were Baby Boomers, with only 22.7% “extremely” or “very” concerned.

Concluding, Gamble shares: “Although different age groups have varying comfort levels with AI, the reality is that AI is not going anywhere.

“While it may not necessarily replace roles, it is certainly changing them

The most competitive employers will empower their workforces to embrace AI and train them on using technology to augment their capabilities.”