62% of Hong Kong Zoomers fear they can’t compete with AI: Chinese YMCA survey

More than 60 per cent of Hong Kong Zoomers fear they cannot compete with rapidly advancing artificial intelligence in the workplace, a survey has found.The survey by the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong also showed about 30 per cent of respondents did not know how to use AI tools, while only 11.5 per cent considered themselves “very familiar” with the technology.The young members’ council under the Chinese YMCA interviewed 1,178 Hongkongers aged between 15 and 30 – commonly known as “Generation Z” or “Zoomers” – between May and September 2025 to examine the competitiveness and future challenges facing the city’s young people.On the impact of AI, nearly 20 per cent “strongly agreed” that the technology would affect their competitiveness, while another 42.5 per cent “agreed” with this statement. Only 3.2 per cent “disagreed” and 1.7 per cent “strongly disagreed”.The survey also found that about 43 per cent of respondents would take into account the development of AI when choosing their academic courses or career path.Around 68 per cent cited fears that the technology would replace the skills they learned at school or on the job.