The AI generation gap: Are Gen Z students more interested in adopting generative AI such as ChatGPT in teaching and learning than their Gen X and Millennial Generation teachers?

The AI generation gap: Are Gen Z students more interested in adopting generative AI such as ChatGPT in teaching and learning than their Gen X and Millennial Generation teachers? Abstract This study aimed to explore the experiences, perceptions, knowledge, concerns, and intentions of Gen Z students with Gen X and Gen Y teachers regarding the use of generative AI (GenAI) in higher education. A sample of students and teachers were recruited to investigate the above using a survey consisting of both open and closed questions. The findings showed that Gen Z participants were generally optimistic about the potential benefits of GenAI, including enhanced productivity, efficiency, and personalized learning, and expressed intentions to use GenAI for various educational purposes. Gen X and Gen Y teachers acknowledged the potential benefits of GenAI but expressed heightened concerns about overreliance, ethical and pedagogical implications, emphasizing the need for proper guidelines and policies to ensure responsible use of the technology. The study highlighted the importance of combining technology with traditional teaching methods to provide a more effective learning experience. Implications of the findings include the need to develop evidence-based guidelines and policies for GenAI integration, foster critical thinking and digital literacy skills among students, and promote responsible use of GenAI technologies in higher education. Keywords: ChatGPT; Generative AI; AI Literacy; Risks; Advantages; Holistic competencies; Challenges; Benefits 1. Introduction Generation Z (Gen Z) students have largely replaced Millennials in undergraduate programmes, with institutions of higher education now primarily enrolling students from the former (Seemiller & Grace, 2016; Shatto & Erwin, 2016). With educators welcoming a new cohort of students to campus, there is a growing concern regarding how to effectively teach this'always-on' generation; for example, a study by Pearson (2018) showed that almost half of all Gen Z-ers (47%) spend a minimum of three hours daily on YouTube. The Gen Z population, much like its predecessors - the Silent and Baby Boomer generations, followed by Generation X (Gen X) and Generation Y (also known as Millennials) - has its own unique, distinct characteristics that have been shaped by information communication technologies, social and cultural shifts, and financial volatility. As such, it is crucial for higher education institutions to effectively engage with Gen Z, in order for scholars, teachers, and university staff to understand their aforementioned characteristics (Seemiller & Grace, 2017; Shatto & Erwin, 2016; Shorey et al., 2021) and in turn, effectively and ethically integrate generative AI (GenAI) technologies into the curriculum.