AI is playing an increasingly influential role in the decisions young adults make, with new research revealing that almost half of Gen Z have changed their mind about a decision after consulting the technology.
Almost half (48%) of Gen Z say AI has changed their mind about a decision, compared with just 5% of people from the Silent Generation (81+). The findings suggest AI is becoming an increasingly influential tool for younger adults as they explore options, weigh trade-offs and think through significant decisions.
The research also highlights striking generational differences in attitudes towards the technology. More than half (55%) of Gen Z (18–29-year-olds) say they trust AI completely or somewhat and use it, compared with 18% of Boomers (62-80) and just 11% of people from the Silent Generation (aged 81+).
People aged 18 to 29 are also significantly more likely to use AI when discussing personal concerns. Almost a quarter (24%) say they would feel comfortable discussing financial worries with AI, compared with just 5% of Boomers.
The research was commissioned by pension provider Aegon as part of its Money:Mindshift campaign, which examines how people make decisions and navigate financial trade-offs in an increasingly complex world, particularly when planning for longer lives.
The findings are consistent with recent research from Hopelab and the Center for Digital Thriving at Harvard Graduate School of Education, which found that some young people are increasingly turning to AI chatbots for advice, emotional support and guidance when weighing up decisions.
Dr Tom Mathar, head of Money:Mindshift at Aegon, said: "The real story isn't whether people are using AI, it's how they're using it. What's particularly striking is that almost half of Gen Z say AI has changed their mind about a decision. For many younger adults, AI is becoming more than a source of information. It's increasingly a tool for exploring options, testing assumptions and thinking through important choices. One of the most valuable things AI can do is help us look at familiar decisions from a different perspective. That can be powerful, particularly when we're weighing complex financial trade-offs.
"Money decisions are rarely simple calculations. They involve trade-offs between competing priorities, both now and in the future. Our research suggests people are increasingly treating AI as a partner for thinking those trade-offs through. AI is excellent at surfacing information and challenging our assumptions, but it can only work with the information we give it. Many of life's biggest decisions are shaped by experiences, relationships and personal priorities that are difficult to capture in a prompt. AI only knows what you tell it, and a personal logic hardly transpires in a chat window."
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