Gen Zers are using AI to skip meetings, get promoted faster and win bigger salary hikes. But they don’t feel great about it

The survey also found that 19% of full-time respondents use AI tools to automatically generate meeting notes. This strategy is paying off for some: According to the research, employees who regularly used AI to take meeting notes were 28% more likely to be promoted, compared to 15% otherwise, and earned nearly $20,000 more annually.

But the tools don’t seem to be working well. Among those who said they skip meetings and rely on AI note-taking, 41% say they missed important context in the meeting that the software did not capture.

Although some employees across all employee groups reported using AI to take notes, the practice was more common among hybrid employees, with 26% saying they used technology frequently, while only 21% of remote workers and 13% of in-person employees used the tools. Technology and software workers were the most likely to use AI frequently, with 32% of respondents indicating they do so, while government employees had the lowest reported use, at just 12%.

From a business perspective, the picture is multi-layered. Companies implementing AI-based note-taking solutions report that professionals are reclaiming an average of five hours per week previously spent on manual documentation — about 250 hours per year per employee — according to research by TechBullion, a fintech media company. The researchers found that meeting attendance metrics improve, too: Attendees’ engagement in a meeting — asking questions and participating in the discussion — increases by 40% when note-taking is switched to AI, and decision-making cycles accelerate.

Broader research shows that younger employees are adopting AI in unprecedented numbers, with 93% of Gen Z workers reporting that they use two or more AI tools weekly, according to a 2024 Google Workspace survey.

However, amid the gains, there is growing concern. Many worry that the tools that elevate their careers today may undermine their job security tomorrow. A D2L survey last year found that 52% of Gen Z respondents expressed concern about being replaced by someone with more advanced AI skills, compared to just 33% of Gen Only 10% among those aged 55 and over. And their bosses seem to agree: Business leaders consider Generation Z as the second generation most vulnerable to job displacement due to AI after Millennials.

Ultimately, even as these young professionals reap the rewards—better visibility, higher wages, and smoother workflows—they also admit they are uneasy about what automation might mean for their professional value and long-term job security.