The Rise of AI Natives and What It Means for Your Business

The next generation of workers are not just digital natives. They are AI natives.

Often called “Uber’s children,” they grew up with instant access to everything. For them, the starting point is not a website or a search bar. It is an intelligent tool. While digital natives turned to Google or social media, AI natives open ChatGPT. Generative AI is not new or surprising to them. It is normal. They use it daily to write, design, code, study, solve problems faster, and seek relationship or mental health advice.

They do not view AI as a separate skill or novelty. They grew up using AI in school. Tools like ChatGPT, Grammarly, and Canva are already second nature. For them, using AI is not innovation. It’s baseline competence. They expect it to be part of every system and workflow.

They are not waiting for permission to use these tools. They are already building with them.

What Do AI Natives Expect from Employers?

AI natives bring a new mindset into the workforce, one shaped by intelligent systems, personalisation, and speed. They want to work in organisations that are digitally mature and AI-ready. They expect recruitment to be efficient and intelligent, not slow and paper-based. They assume the internal tools will work like the apps they use in their personal lives. That means personalised, easy to use, and designed with the user in mind.

They want more than a digital presence. They expect your organisation to participate actively in online conversations. They look for roles that offer purpose and clear goals, along with real support for mental and emotional wellbeing. This is not seen as optional. It is part of the job.

They also want the freedom to speak in their own voice. Copying and pasting corporate messages is not good enough. They value leaders who understand how AI works and who push for smarter use of it across the organisation. For many, flexibility and personal growth matter more than job security or salary. They use tools like ChatGPT instead of traditional search engines. If your organisation is not showing up in those results, you are already becoming invisible.

Education also plays a key role. AI natives expect access to coaching, mentoring, and training that prepares them for the reality of today’s job market. But these needs are not limited to digital natives. Your whole workforce needs the same support. The job of leadership is to bring everyone on that journey.

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What This Means for Business Leaders

If the workforce is evolving, so must your hiring and development practices. It is not enough to bring in AI-native talent. You must upskill the rest of your workforce too. That means building digital confidence across all generations, not just the newest ones.

Customers now expect the same level of intelligence and service they get from companies like Uber Eats, Amazon, TikTok, or Netflix. Employees do too. Your products and services must reflect that standard. Every team needs to think digitally and work with AI-powered tools.

Culture must adapt. Your organisation is part of a global talent market, and your teams may include people from many countries and cultures. That brings opportunity, but also requires care. You need to be thoughtful about how you lead and how your leadership is experienced by others.

Leadership today means listening and learning. Reverse mentorship can help senior leaders understand what younger employees already know. Mental health and psychological safety are no longer side issues. They are central to performance and retention.

You need to invest in learning for everyone. That includes training in digital tools, analytics, and AI. It also means having clear career paths, personalised development plans, and regular opportunities to grow. The best people will expect flexibility around how and where they work. That includes remote, hybrid, and in-person options. They will also expect work to add value to their lives, not just take time from them.

To succeed, your organisation must align people, processes, AI, and business strategy. Future-ready companies will be the ones that can attract top talent while also protecting the wellbeing of the people who work for them.

The Cost of Doing Nothing

If your organisation fails to invest in AI or support AI-native talent, the risk is not a slow decline. It is irrelevance.

Without AI adoption, your competitive edge disappears. Productivity falls. Costs rise. Your service quality drops, and your customers start to leave. Eventually, so do your best people.

AI is not about removing humans from the process. It is about helping them achieve more with less friction and greater insight. That is what drives innovation and growth.

The time to act is now. If you do not know where to begin, my team and I can help.

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Author: Kieran Gilmurray MBA MSc. PG. Dip. BSc. (Hons) | CEO and Founder of Kieran Gilmurray and Company Limited A Global Digital Transformation and AI Company.

Kieran Gilmurray is the world’s first Chief Generative AI and Agentic AI Officer. A multi-award-winning author, speaker, and strategist, he helps top global brands use advanced tech to boost customer experience, efficiency, and growth. His advice is sharp, practical, and focused on real business outcomes.

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