Britain’s youngest office workers are increasingly relying on AI to get through everyday tasks, despite fears that the same technology could ultimately threaten their job security.

Many Gen Z workers feel intense pressure to appear more qualified than they believe they are when entering the workforce, with the latest Kahoot survey finding that over 65% now use AI to draft CVs, cover letters and job applications.

Men were more likely than women to embellish their CVs, at 53% compared with 46%, with work experience, technical skills, qualifications and awards among the most exaggerated sections.

This reliance on AI does not end once they enter the workplace, with nearly six in ten admitting to using AI to complete everyday tasks due to feeling undertrained or lacking the skills to keep pace with more experienced colleagues.

This caused several Gen Z to voice the need for better training, calling for more real-life applications and interactivity.

While many young office workers view AI as essential to staying afloat at work and bridging skills gaps, fears persist that the technology could eventually replace them. More than half believe AI poses a threat to their job security, with nearly two in ten worried it could make their roles obsolete.

Jon Neale, growth director UK and Ireland at Kahoot, said: “Employers who want to fulfil their potential need to provide clear guidance, better training and genuine support, rather than leaving AI to fill the gaps,” adding that “this reliance on AI is a short-term fix for a much deeper, widespread issue”.

Despite these concerns, young workers show little appetite to abandon AI tools, with three in ten seeing their understanding of the technology as a “big advantage” over older colleagues and just five per cent viewing their tech savviness as a disadvantage in the workplace.

Sheila Flavell CBE, COO of FDM Group commented: “As AI adoption accelerates across industries, organisations must ensure their workforce has the skills to work effectively alongside these technologies. Our research highlights that over half (54%) of organisations now say AI skills will be required in all early-career roles, however, only 6% of teams currently have high AI proficiency.

“This gap underscores the urgent need for upskilling both existing staff and graduates entering the workforce. AI is not a replacement for human expertise, it amplifies it. By embedding practical AI training into professional development, organisations can equip employees to critically assess, guide, and collaborate with AI tools, rather than outsourcing thinking to technology.”

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Beyond concerns around AI, Gen Z workers also voiced frustration with wider aspects of office life, including being drawn into meetings that could have been emails, dealing with micromanaging managers and being scheduled into meetings late on Friday afternoons.

Flexibility emerged as a key priority, with 33% citing it as the most important factor in their working lives and 45% expressing a preference for hybrid working arrangements. However, opinions were divided, with one in five preferring to work in the office full time, often pointing to the value of in-person learning and collaboration for career development.

Pay was also identified as a major driver of performance, with nearly three in ten citing financial rewards as their main motivation, despite 89% reporting unpaid overtime. In contrast, just 13% said praise and recognition were their primary motivators, while 78% prioritised higher pay over a more senior job title.