82% of Indian Gen Z use AI weekly for learning and skills, survey finds

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of the everyday learning routine of India’s Gen Z, with 82% of young respondents using AI or generative AI tools at least once a week. Gen Z are using AI to learn or develop new skills, according to a new survey by education company Emeritus.

The findings come from “India’s Gen Z Outlook 2026: Recalculating Education, Ambition, and Success — The No Cap Generation”. They surveyed 1,010 respondents aged between 15 and 28 across the pre-college, higher education and early-career stages.

The growing adoption of AI reflects a significant shift in how young people approach education and career preparation. AI tools are no longer being used only to find quick answers to academic questions. Young Indians are increasingly turning to them for homework, coding, document editing, resume preparation, content creation and skill development.

The trend is also reflected in findings from Anthropic’s Economic Index, which highlights India’s growing use of AI for education and professional work. According to the report, 19.3% of Claude.ai conversations in India are related to education and learning, while homework-related queries account for 7.9% of interactions.

Indian users are also relying on AI more heavily than the global average in areas such as mathematics and computer science theory, AI application development and web development. The Anthropic report found that the use of AI for mathematics and computer science theory in India is twice the global average, while its use for AI application development is 1.8 times higher.

The growing dependence on AI comes alongside a changing perception of the value of formal education. According to the survey, 65% of early-career respondents believe that a degree alone is no longer enough to succeed in the job market.

Instead, young people are placing increasing importance on practical and continuously updated skills. However, this shift is also creating pressure. Around 60% of respondents said they feel burned out by the need to constantly upskill, even as 75% believe acquiring the right skills is necessary to remain competitive.

These findings point to a changing education and employment landscape where learning increasingly extends beyond classrooms, colleges and formal degrees.