‘It’s just a computer, right?’ How AI is tearing Gen Z in two

More than two-thirds of young people are struggling to unwind and feel an increasing sense of uncertainty around the future of artificial intelligence, while cost of living remains the number one concern for Australians aged 18 to 24, according to a new national survey.

The annual Gen Z Wellbeing Index, released this week, found that 69 per cent of young Australians feel guilty for relaxing, citing worries around wasting time or feeling that they should be doing something deemed to be productive instead.

University student Alyssa Mortimore, 19, said that despite knowing the importance of unwinding, she often felt stressed from doing too much and struggled to take a break.

“You’re seeing so many people at times who are overworking themselves to the point where they’re not able to do anything,” she said. “I find I’m still guilty of doing that sometimes as well.”

Despite her peers’ attitudes, Mortimore said taking rest seriously had become something that most helped her adjust to life in Melbourne after moving from the small Tasmanian town of Huonville two years ago.

“To go into a big city where your face can practically disappear was very, very jarring,” she said. “It was quite stressful, and I truthfully had a lot of anxiety attacks, which was not enjoyable.”

Since then, Mortimore has made hobbies and relaxation – without the expectation of it being productive – a non-negotiable in her schedule.

“I really love doing art, especially when I’m not going through the best time mentally,” said Mortimore. “Or if I can’t make art because I’m feeling burnt out, I will just listen to new music.”

Professor of wellbeing science at the University of Melbourne Nikki Rickard said that while experiencing periods of boredom and mental quietness might feel foreign, it is essential for young people’s development and wellbeing.

“Mentally, emotionally, even socially – to be able to have time on your own and not depend always on back and forth between other people is a critical part of our natural development,” she said.

Research from the University of Sydney earlier this year found the number of mental disorders in those aged 16 to 24 has surged from 23.4 per cent in 2007 to 36.2 per cent in 2022 – a relative increase of about 54 per cent.

Of the survey respondents, one in four (26 per cent) reported they could not manage more than three hours without their phone.

Concerns about the cost of living was ranked as the number one issue for the third year in a row, followed by housing and rental affordability, and mental health.

The prevalence of AI and concerns about its societal impact was listed as the fourth-most significant concern this year – up from 10th place in 2025.

While 34 per cent of participants worried about how AI would impact the future jobs market, one in four Gen Zers turned to AI when in need of life advice.

Traditionally, Rickard said, “young people are pretty bad at seeking help for their mental health”, noting that AI technology has helped fill the gaps where stigma or accessibility to services act as a barrier for seeking professional support.

“That’s where AI tools and digital tools offer a level of personalisation that can be really helpful, particularly for marginalised groups,” she said.

However, Rickard stressed the importance of using specialised AI tools that have been rigorously trained as professionals are.

Dhananjay Nagpal, 20, is studying computer science at the University of Melbourne and said he mostly uses AI for academic purposes, but sometimes to reflect on his own thoughts.

“Not asking for advice, but maybe just reassuring myself,” he said.

“But again, it’s just a computer, right? So you can’t really trust it.”

University of Melbourne critical thinking researcher Dr Samantha-Kaye Johnston said personalised general-purpose AI systems appeal to young people “because they’re quite convincing in terms of how they anticipate their needs, and they’re available 24/7”.

But she warned that in order to be genuinely beneficial to a person’s development, AI chatbots and coaches need to be designed to provide cognitive friction, “which is the intellectual effort that’s involved in questioning information and being comfortable in encountering competing perspectives instead of just immediately receiving an answer”.

Johnston said it comes down to encouraging young people to reach a level of autonomy to know when to turn away from chatbots for guidance, and providing them with the skills and tools to know how to turn towards the humans in their lives.

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