From penning poems to writing code and from offering professional advice to being a digital agony aunt, AI seems to be doing it all and more. It’s this all-pervasive nature of the technology that has managed to strike both fear and awe in the hearts of people all across the world. Soul App, a leading Chinese social networking platform, wanted to analyze how youngsters felt about the technology and how they were using it.
Earlier in the month, Just So Soul, the platform’s internal research team, surveyed its predominantly Gen Z user base to compile a report. Around 3,600 participants took part in the survey, which included questions about AI’s role in social interactions and its impact on Gen Z’s professional and economic outlook.
The general perception of AI is that it poses a threat not just professionally, but also socially and personally. Many millennials and Gen Xers worry that AI could isolate people and hinder genuine human connection.
Gen Z, however, offers a more nuanced perspective. While they’re concerned about AI’s potential to disrupt the job market—particularly college students preparing to enter the workforce—they’re also proactively adapting to it. Rather than resisting, many are choosing to embrace the technology to make the most of its capabilities.
According to Soul App’s survey, 95% of respondents said they use AI for academic or work-related purposes. More than half reported that they integrate the technology into their routines regularly.
When asked about AI’s impact on productivity, the responses were notable. Nearly 80% said it increased their efficiency by at least 50%, while 30.8% stated that their productivity had doubled.
Approximately 20% of those surveyed admitted they were already using AI to generate income. Many cited automation and content creation as powerful tools, while others praised AI’s role in developing ideas for side ventures, underscoring its entrepreneurial potential.
Compared to a similar survey conducted by Soul App in 2024, the number of respondents who have monetized AI is significantly higher in 2025. More than 22% believed AI could help them start a business, and nearly 60% expected it to give rise to new professions.
Additionally, nearly 30% of participants said they were actively developing AI-related skills, recognizing that staying ahead of technological trends is essential for career success. The number of users claiming advanced AI expertise has increased sevenfold over the past year.
While AI’s academic and commercial uses have grown rapidly, the report also highlighted a sharp rise in its use for social and emotional interactions—something researchers had not fully anticipated.
Nearly 80% of respondents said AI had directly improved their ability to form real-world relationships. They cited AI’s ability to suggest conversation topics and responses as useful for building interpersonal skills.
Participants also noted that AI effectively matches individuals based on shared interests, helping people forge new connections and even enhance their emotional well-being.
Beyond facilitation, AI is increasingly being used for emotional support. According to the survey, nearly 40% of Gen Z respondents regularly engage with AI for this purpose, with some interacting with AI-driven platforms multiple times a day. Interestingly, the data showed that men were more likely than women to use these tools.
There is also considerable openness to befriending AI. Around 70% of survey participants expressed interest in forming connections with AI-created personas, and many already considered themselves to have about two AI friends on average.
When asked whether AI fulfills emotional needs, 25% said it fully meets their emotional requirements, while about 50% said it does so to some extent. Only 6% were unimpressed by AI’s emotional support capabilities.
The popularity of AI among young users appears to stem not only from its technological advancements—such as better reasoning, perception, and interaction—but also from its role in addressing unmet social and emotional needs.
As Soul App’s survey concluded, one of the main reasons Gen Z is embracing AI is because it helps fill the gap left by weakening social structures. With the right capabilities and timing, AI has positioned itself as a tool of both utility and emotional relevance.
