Almost 40 per cent of Generation Z members use artificial intelligence every day. For some, it helps with schoolwork and homework, while others confide in it about far more personal matters – from romantic dilemmas to problems with friends and family.
For young people, AI has become much more than an ordinary tool, but at the same time, the question arises: where is the boundary between useful technology and a substitute for real conversation?
Whenever they have a dilemma, a problem or a question, young people are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence.
Simply put, AI has become the adviser of Generation Z. But what do young people most commonly consult it about?
Aleksandar Đorđević from the agency UM explained to Newsmax Balkans that around 60 per cent of users searching for information have shifted from Google to AI tools because they believe these provide more direct and comprehensive answers.
Đorđević points out that AI is used both in education and in business, and that its main advantage lies in enabling tasks to be completed more quickly and efficiently – in other words, increasing productivity.
“However, the story does not end there. A third of people use it for personal advice – both for solving everyday problems and for emotional support in relationships with friends and partners,” our interviewee said.
What women use AI for, and what men use it for
Research conducted by McCann Belgrade and UM Belgrade shows that young people do not embrace artificial intelligence without reservations. More than two-thirds of respondents verify the information they receive from AI. They trust it, but not completely.
The findings also show that Generation Z is not homogeneous: young women are more sceptical and use artificial intelligence differently from young men.
Katarina Pribićević from McCann explained that women most often use AI for emotional, medical and nutrition-related advice, while men mainly use it for financial guidance. “In addition, women share a great deal with AI, but at the same time they are much more cautious,” added Pribićević.
“Parents still rank first in terms of trust”
The extensive use, combined with a pronounced reservation towards artificial intelligence, is another paradox of a generation that has grown up alongside technology. Although they are constantly connected to the digital world, young people still place the greatest trust in their parents.
Pribićević explained that artificial intelligence was compared with other institutions and individuals whom young people trust. According to her, the results showed that parents still rank first in terms of trust, followed by friends, while artificial intelligence comes only fifth or sixth, depending on the topic. “That is an indication of the kind of world they live in and the kind of world they want,” Pribićević emphasised.
This is the boundary that even the smartest algorithm has not yet crossed. Artificial intelligence can be a conversational partner, but not a friend. It may offer answers, but not understanding.
Without responsibility for the words it produces, and inclined to confirm what we want to hear, AI can easily become both an ally and a Trojan horse.
(Newsmax Balkans 13.05.2026)
https://newsmaxbalkans.com/info/drustvo/46740/koliko-mladi-veruju-vestackoj-inteligenciji/vest