Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
[I] Young people often look to authority figures such as parents or bosses for personal or career advice, believing in their life experience and expertise. [II] However, the emergence of AI-powered tools changed everything. [III] Whether they need help solving personal problems or making momentous decisions, AI has increasingly become the preferred advice-giver. [IV]
Many young people feel more comfortable turning to AI for personal advice, especially on sensitive topics. Unlike human mentors or parents, AI gives advice without judging, making it easier for users to share their concerns without worrying about being criticized or having to listen to biased advice. Privacy is another major factor—Gen Z values the ability to seek help anonymously, avoiding the pressure that often comes with discussing personal struggles with family or friends. Additionally, AI is available 24/7 and provides instant responses. Whether users need help late at night or during a busy workday, AI can offer suggestions without delay.
Many Gen Z job-seekers are asking AI chatbots to search the Internet for information in order to analyze job trends and recommend suitable industries. Going even deeper, they can provide information on potential salaries, required skills, and long-term growth opportunities. These tools can even help users prepare for interviews by offering practice questions, analyzing their responses, and suggesting improvements. Some AI applications even provide career-focused learning recommendations, guiding young professionals to tailor their skills to suit the specific job roles and industries that they are applying for.
Despite AI’s convenience, experts warn about over-reliance. AI-generated responses cannot always replace human judgment and emotional intelligence. For example, an AI tool may quickly suggest general strategies for handling disagreements based on training data, but it cannot understand past experiences or read the specific emotions behind a conflict, which can make its advice feel impersonal or unrealistic. Furthermore, when young people habitually turn to AI for answers, they miss out on opportunities to learn from their mistakes, which helps them become more patient, determined, and better at finding solutions when things don’t go as planned.