For younger generations, AI is not just a passing trend—it’s a new and integral part of the digital landscapes they inhabit. As we prepare for Gen Alpha to enter the workforce, how can we prepare for the impact their AI fluency will have?
Driving along the other day and the Paul Simon classic, “You Can Call Me Al” came on—I’m a sucker for that baseline. My 11-year-old daughter read the title and asked me if the song was called “You can call me A-I”. We laughed but it made me think about the breakneck influence AI is having on teens—the workforce of the future.
Over the past year, the explosion of AI platforms freely delivers the technology into the hands of anyone who wants to explore it, and the explosion of discourse about its implications have put AI at the epicenter of the online world. The same world our teens are natives in.
Gen Z, and to an even greater extent, Gen Alpha (people born between 2010 and now) have lived their entire lives dipping in and out of online worlds and seem as comfortable there as they do in real life. They adapt with lightning speed to modern technology and seamlessly integrate it into their routines, often rolling their eyes at older generations as we try to catch up. The rise of AI is no exception. Currently Gen Alpha is using AI as a therapist, friend, college counselor, search engine, personal assistant, and study buddy, all in one chat bubble.
And they will be entering the workforce in the next two decades. So, what does that mean for their employers? What does it mean for us in internal comms?
We need to start futureproofing our communication and employee experience strategies now so when Gen Alpha hits the workforce, we are prepared to be competitive employers to this new generation.
- Personalization is non-negotiable
Even though AI is still in its infancy, we are already seeing brands use AI chatbots act like personal shoppers, helping customers find products with specificity and efficiency. AI customer service can find all your information from just a phone number, skipping a tedious Q & A. AI-powered marketing shows us what we want before we even know we want it. In this new world of hyper-personalization, generic messaging just won’t cut it.
- Expectations will be high
Our future workforce, especially young ones, have little patience for what they feel to be outdated or inefficient tech. They are used to top of the line UI and UX and expect the answers they want and need to be there at the drop of a hat. Prioritizing the user experience of employee websites, mobile apps, and benefit portals, may be an important part of creating spaces Gen Alpha wants to work in.
- The experts are no longer at the top
Gen Alpha is already developing expertise in creative, new ways of using AI and related tech. To discount their fluency will be to set ourselves up to stagnate. We must have systems in place that let us listen to and learn from voices at every level.
- Be wary of overconfidence
One of AI’s biggest downfalls is that it is the ultimate hype man. It doesn’t question or challenge you and gives you the sense that you are always on the right track. And, the more “intelligent” AI sounds, the more we want to trust it implicitly, despite knowing it can and does provide incorrect information. AI is an amazing tool, but when working with generations who may trust it more than they should, it’s important to have quality checks and oversight in place.
- The AI re-wire
Despite AI's potential, most businesses are not ready to adopt it. Those who could benefit the most face significant hurdles, such as inadequate infrastructure, lack of governance frameworks and uncertainty about where to start. Leaders also need to change their perspectives on AI. Early AI solutions were often overhyped and poorly designed, leading to hesitation among business leaders. Conversations we’ve had with CTOs at major global companies reveal that they are under immense pressure to create a future of work that is efficient and productive, allowing people to focus on meaningful tasks.
Like my daughter seeing “Al” in a Paul Simon song, the younger generations expect to see AI everywhere. And they are right. As the technology grows and improves, I expect it will become an increasingly important part of our lives and livelihoods. We can’t treat AI as a passing trend—the teens certainly aren’t. Staying in tune to the changing world, both real and virtual, will ensure we stay relevant and competitive for the workforce of the future.
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