Younger workers are not waiting for employers to steer them towards AI. Instead, Millennials and Gen Zs are signing up for paid and free AI courses at a rapid pace, signaling a shift in how early and mid-career employees prepare for the next stage of work.
New reports show a steady rise in structured AI training, along with signs that younger employees are adjusting their career plans to match the rapid spread of generative tools.
Deloitte’s 2024 survey of these age groups found that 60% of Gen Z respondents and 57% of Millennials expect widespread use of GenAI to require ongoing reskilling. Many said the technology is already shaping how they choose jobs and plan long-term goals.
The report also noted frequent workplace use of AI tools among younger staff, paired with worries about staying employable without continuous training. For many, the solution is to learn faster and with more intention.
Numbers from Coursera reflect similar momentum. In 2023, the platform recorded one enrollment in a GenAI course per minute. By the start of 2024, that rate had multiplied several times over, while year-over-year signups for GenAI classes rose by 1060%. Learners are choosing programs that promise practical fluency, not just casual exposure.
Data from Udemy points in the same direction. Topics such as applied AI tools, prompt engineering, and core concepts are among its fastest risers, with particularly strong participation from Gen Z. Companies are also consuming more AI material through enterprise licenses.
Demand is rising on the employer side as well. A report from LinkedIn’s Workplace Learning notes that four out of five professionals want to understand how AI fits into their roles. Learning teams inside companies now place skill-building near the top of their priorities.
Deloitte’s findings show that most young workers expect to collaborate with AI in some form. They want employers who will help them build the right skills, which is pushing learners toward structured programs rather than casual experimentation. Instead of relying on scattered online videos, many are choosing guided paths, certificates, and bootcamps that link AI concepts with real tasks.
These programs often package fundamentals, tool practice, and evaluation in a way that lets workers show measurable progress without leaving their jobs.
Most of these learners are not aiming to become AI scientists; rather, their focus is on practical uses such as data analysis, marketing content, customer support, documentation, and industry-specific tasks that can be improved with automation.
To support this demand, companies like IBM, Microsoft, and Google now provide low-cost or free AI pathways that include badges and professional certificates, giving younger workers an affordable entry point.
Younger people have always been at the forefront of adopting new technologies, and it is unlikely that this trend will change as even more advanced quantum computing solutions from companies like D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) become mainstream on the market.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/QBTS
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