Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an inseparable part of Generation Z’s daily life. It is used to complete assignments, seek creative ideas, or simply chat.
A 2025 survey by the Indonesian Internet Service Providers Association (APJII) revealed that 43.7 percent of Gen Z are active AI users, the highest among all generations, followed by millennials at 22.3 percent.
This data indicates that AI has become deeply embedded in the lifestyles of Indonesia’s younger generation. However, alongside the convenience AI offers, concerns have grown about its potential negative impacts as its use becomes increasingly widespread.
Professor Ridi Ferdiana, an expert in software engineering at UGM, stated that the rising use of AI among youth is inevitable for a generation raised in a digital environment. According to him, the most significant disruption is not merely the emergence of AI itself, but the advent of generative AI, which is transforming the way young people think.
“Generation Z were born as digital natives. They’ve been surrounded by technology since childhood. Generative AI is now the biggest disruption that’s changing the way they think and live,” said Professor Ferdiana in an interview on Wednesday (Nov. 5).
He predicted that AI use among young people will continue to rise, especially considering that millennials and Gen Z together make up 77 percent of active AI users. For example, he cited UGM’s student population, where around 45,000 of 60,000 students already use AI in both academic and everyday activities.
“Take UGM, for instance, out of 60,000 students, about 45,000 are already using AI technology. I estimate that by 2030, adoption could reach 100 percent,” he explained.
From a positive perspective, Professor Ferdiana noted that AI can revolutionize learning methods and enhance creativity among young people. In particular, generative AI can serve as a learning partner, helping you understand concepts rather than simply providing instant answers.
“For example, Gemini AI features guided learning that teaches users and conducts deep research, helping them analyze answers more critically rather than just accepting them at face value,” he said.
Nevertheless, excessive use of AI without verifying information can lead to dependency, a phenomenon Professor Ferdiana calls “DDA” or ‘dikit-dikit AI’ (AI for everything).
Many young people, he said, rely on AI for nearly all activities, which can result in mental underload (a decline in the brain’s cognitive engagement).
This dependency may reduce critical thinking and memory capacity, and even trigger “brain rot” as the brain becomes less active.
“Critical thinking and memorization decline, and the most worrying effect is brain rot, when people become too lazy to think and ask AI for everything,” he warned.
According to Professor Ferdiana, each generation adapts differently to technological advances, particularly AI. He explained that Generation X and baby boomers, as digital immigrants, often view AI merely as a work tool and lack the capacity to fully adapt to it.
In contrast, Gen Z sees AI as an integral part of everyday life, while millennials occupy a middle ground, similar to Gen Z but with only a quarter of their lives shaped by technology.
“Generation X and baby boomers are no longer in their most productive phase; they focus more on socializing and empathy. For them, AI is just a tool like Microsoft Word or Excel. But for Gen Z and millennials, AI represents a true disruption that’s reshaping life itself,” he said.
He added that AI’s rapid development has created an intergenerational behavioral shift. Many young people now prefer using AI over traditional search engines to find information. It is a sign not only of technological transition but also of a deeper cultural shift in how they learn and interact.
To ensure AI use remains balanced, Professor Ferdiana emphasized the importance of digital wisdom and introduced the ERA framework (short for Essential, Rating, and Applicable) as a set of ethical and literacy guidelines for young users.
The first one is Essential, where foundational knowledge should still be sought from credible scientific sources, such as books, not directly from AI. The next one is Rating, which users must consider carefully before consulting AI.
They have to evaluate their own reasoning first, then use AI to compare opinions or perspectives. And the last one is Applicable that AI should serve as a tool to refine and complete tasks, but only after the Essential and Rating stages have been understood and applied.
By following these three principles, Professor Ferdiana hopes young people can use AI responsibly while maintaining their capacity for critical thinking amid the accelerating digital transformation.
“We should treat generative AI as our partner, not as a replacement for our ability to solve problems. That’s why applying the ERA concept is so crucial in today’s digital world,” he concluded.
Author: Cyntia Noviana
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Illustration: Freepik