By Mackenna Moralez, Associate Editor

Two things are currently dominating the work force right now: Gen Z and AI – and both are receiving mixed reviews. 

The introduction to AI and Gen Z into the workforce goes hand-in-hand. The oldest of Gen Z first began their careers during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, right at the same time emerging technology solutions like AI were ramping up. The overwhelming goal of these technologies is to make jobs easier for employees, but it is now being argued that the youngest generation of employees are taking it too far. 

According to a study done by Resume.ai,  67 percent of Gen Z respondents said that they would rather turn to AI tools rather than refer to their managers. Meanwhile, 22.8 percent said that their dependence on managers has decreased since utilizing AI as they would rather engage with the technology multiple times each day.  

Related Content: Trade Jobs Offer Promising Opportunities for Gen Z

Really, it’s a double-edged sword. The utilization of AI allows managers to focus on more relevant tasks rather than answering mundane questions from employees, but it still provides a low operations burden and accessibility to a fast-paced team that require solutions in a moment’s notice. Even in an industry like facilities management, 61 percent of respondents have reported using it for technical problem-solving. 

Facilities management is an industry that allows for creative problem solving. However, the timing of these problems and how quickly they can be addressed is often an issue. According to the report, over half of respondents said that AI solve their problems quicker than their superiors. In addition, 46 percent believe that AI is more skilled and knowledgeable than their managers, leading 39 percent to feel more comfortable asking AI questions.  

Technology needs to be able to work in tandem with employees. According to a LinkedIn survey, at least half of U.S. workers believe that AI skills will progress their careers. The future of technology relies on collaboration. Whoever can tie the two fields together will be able to set a new standard of facilities management for the future.  

Mackenna Moralez is the associate editor of the facilities market and the host of the Facilities in Focus podcast.