Google VP says AI revolution is only a matter of time: it’s a ‘native part’ of what Gen Z does

« I think it’s really fascinating, » Kim shared Luck« because unlike older generations who may find AI more useful in their lives, » the study shows that « the younger generation really feels like it’s an innate part of their work. »

Kim, a mother of two, said that according to the survey, using AI is like watching young children use iPads. « You didn’t have to teach the kid how to roll, did you? » He cited a survey conducted by Harris Poll for Google of more than 1,000 US knowledge workers, as well as his conversations with Fortune 500 companies and a global network of start-ups. There’s just a clear generational divide, he said. « A lot of Zers actually use it in ways that are very original. »

This finding is compelling because historically younger generations have often dictated the trajectory of workplace technology, bringing into their organizations products they grew up with in school or in their personal lives. « In terms of AI in particular, I’ve also been very curious to see how younger workers are using AI because it tells you where the future is going, » Kim said.

On the flip side of that question, older, likely more vulnerable workers who are vulnerable to AI-induced disruption, Kim acknowledged this is part of the equation. « There’s going to be groups of people where they just pick it up and it feels natural. And then there’s people who are fine… Change is sometimes hard. »

Kim used the example of the moment Google Docs arrived, when employees didn’t have to wait for a file to be emailed back and forth with revisions, instead people could work on them together, in real time.

« You can imagine how not having a separate, literal version of the document might be a bit of a concern for people who are very, very used to years and years of being able to draft it, » he said. For the younger generation, he added, « It seems almost unfathomable to have to wait for someone to be able to give feedback or look at something very, very quickly. »

Quality means personalization

While the previous year was an experimental one for many large companies, Generation Z is « already there » figuring out how to become more productive and efficient on their own. He offered an example of « vibe coding, » or using AI tools to code without perhaps having much coding training or expertise.

« It’s much more about what is the end result that I want to create? And what do I want to create? » Kim said. « And using artificial intelligence to partner and collaborate with you to build these things. »

This was a key theme that jumped out at Kim when he highlighted that 90% of emerging leaders want to be “personalized” by their AI. Younger workers are already using AI to personalize their workflow, he said, and successful AI tools (and companies) are supporting that personalization. Young leaders are « beyond the mainstream, » Kim said, and 92% of respondents said AI is essential to providing truly personalized assistance. For AI to be truly useful, the « quality bar » must be higher than mere novelty, requiring output that conveys the user’s particular voice, tone, and writing style. This demand for authenticity comes despite – or perhaps because of – a generation that maintains a high degree of skepticism and is quick to recognize when content, such as a photo or article, might be produced by artificial intelligence.

Kim said her own teenage children are « very skeptical » when they see the photos on social media. « They’re like, ‘Was that an AI image?' » He said his kids — and he assumes younger generations — have « that radar » where it’s very important that things feel « authentic and real. » The best AI tools in the future, according to Kim, will be those that seamlessly mirror their users.

AI will help workers focus on ideas by handling « all the time-consuming things, » such as « spell-checking and grammar-checking functions. » This empowerment means that traditional barriers, such as a lack of coding skills or graphic design skills, are no longer a major barrier to moving an idea from idea to reality. One manager noted that after introducing Gemini to his teams, they began producing « the highest quality work he’s ever seen. »

Google Workspace, which serves more than 3 billion users in more than 11 million paying organizations worldwide, aims to meet users in this new reality. The strategic goal is to make sure that AI doesn’t feel like « bolts on your life, » Kim said, but something that’s seamlessly accessible in everyday tools like Gmail and Google Docs. This native integration has already produced powerful results for many users, including native English speakers, who now use Gmail’s AI to quickly write professional emails, increasing their communication confidence.

Kim described the privilege—and pressure—of representing Google Workspace around the world. For example, he said he regularly meets with Fortune 500 companies that use Workspace, but also smaller companies in places like Brazil and India.

« It’s been amazing to hear from users all over the world, » he said, highlighting how much AI has helped non-native English speakers write professional emails in English. « It saves time, but also makes them trust the communication. »

Similarly, Kim said, other clients have told him that the AI ​​has reduced the time they have to wait for their American colleagues to simply review a copy before they can publish it on their website. As he represents digital tools that span half the world, the scale of Kim’s task is considerable.

When asked about the massive change that AI represents and whether he sees part of his role as change management for three billion people, Kim paused and nodded. « Sometimes, sometimes? Because I think the thing is, when you have such a broad spectrum of users, you have all ages, different countries… it’s a privilege and a big challenge to serve all these audiences, but it’s fun. »