The AI Dilemma: Gen Z’s Unsettling Dependence on Technology

A recent study from GoTo and Workplace Intelligence reveals that half of workers today are over-relying on artificial intelligence at work – with Gen Z leading the charge. This trend is a red flag waving loudly about the impact of technology on our cognitive abilities, careers, and way of thinking.

The data from GoTo’s 2026 Pulse of Work report should be sobering to anyone who believes that AI will inevitably augment human capabilities. The study found that 62% of Gen Z respondents admit to over-relying on AI tools, which is not just about being comfortable using technology but also about the very notion of what it means to work and contribute in the modern era.

GoTo CEO Rich Veldran warns that while AI can take “work out of the system,” we must not cede all human judgment to machines. This echoes the findings of Microsoft’s 2025 study, which linked heavy reliance on AI tools to weaker critical thinking skills. We’re witnessing a collective amnesia about the value of human thought and expertise.

Some Gen Z workers are actively sabotaging their company’s AI rollout out of fear that technology will take their job. Veldran’s phrase – “if you depend too much on [AI] what you’re doing isn’t as valuable” – cuts to the heart of this issue. We’re raising a generation that believes their worth is tied to their ability to extract answers from machines, rather than adding personal value through human insight and creativity.

Forty percent of Gen Z workers say they can’t get by without AI technology. This has significant implications for their future careers. Encouraging workers to integrate AI – rather than replacing them outright – may be the smarter play, according to a Gartner study cited in the report. However, employers who reserve raises for workers leading the charge on AI adoption are playing with fire.

They’re essentially rewarding those who have mastered the art of extracting answers from machines, while leaving behind those who struggle to adapt. This trend extends beyond individual careers and risks raising a generation that is ill-equipped to handle the complexities and uncertainties of the modern world.

As Veldran so aptly puts it, “You haven’t had those experiences necessarily where you’re formulating a strategy, you had to do the work yourself, you had to earn your stripes.” We’re in danger of eroding the very foundation of human skill-building: hands-on experience, trial and error, and the confidence that comes from learning through failure.

In the end, this is not just about AI or technology; it’s about what we value as a society. Do we prioritize human judgment, creativity, and critical thinking – skills that are uniquely ours to possess? Or do we continue down the path of relying on machines to perform tasks, sacrificing our cognitive abilities in the process? The choice is clear: we must strike a balance between adopting AI and preserving human expertise if we hope to create a workforce that is capable, confident, and equipped for the challenges ahead.