Why Young Media Workers Fear AI Adoption

A LinkedIn panel featuring senior figures from Publicis Groupe, Microsoft ANZ, and The Daily Aus revealed that younger media professionals are largely "using AI like a fancy Google" rather than leveraging its full capabilities. Fear of experimentation, unfamiliar terminology, and concern about making mistakes are key barriers holding Gen Z back. Surprisingly, older staff report greater AI confidence, though panelists questioned whether this reflects genuine strategic use. Research shows 63 per cent of Australians worry about falling behind by resisting AI, while 82 per cent still believe human judgement remains irreplaceable.