Gen Z sobriety, AI emails, and working forever

The latest trends in society and culture from The Harris Poll

Good morning from New York.

One Interesting Stat: 63. Nearly two-thirds of Gen Z (63%) shop secondhand than (47%) of Americans at large. One surprising reason why is digital: “Live stream thrifting is exploding because it’s delivered in a native social environment,” our CSO Libby Rodney told Vox, “and it combines the intimacy/expertise of an auctioneer and the thrill of discovery that algorithms can’t replicate.” Check out this new hot trend herein a Vox video.

We have four new stories from our polling this week:

1. With their rising temperance and health concerns, will Gen Z kill alcohol culture?
2. AI is a godsend, but it’s not a failsafe tool for communicating nuance and tone, as we find in a new survey with Grammarly in Inc.
3. GenAI has already infiltrated gaming development, according to a new Google Cloud/Harris Poll.
4. Whether of desire or necessity, Gen Z might work indefinitely, says a new Nerdwallet/Harris Poll.

Gen Z, The Driest Generation: eMarketer-Harris Poll

That sound of glasses clinking in a bar is more likely today to be a mocktail, revealing an evolving drinking culture among American youth.

• Americans still name alcohol as their go-to restaurant drink (36% v. soda: 29%), including (50%) of Millennials (50%) and (40%) of Gen X. But surprisingly, only (25%) of Gen Z say they order alcoholic beverages at restaurants.
• Gen Z’s interest in NA alternatives rising: Half (52%) of Gen Z now regularly order mocktails, or NA alternatives (48%), and even THC/CBD drinks (33%) in the last month (v. gen pop: 33%, 32% and 23%).
• Alcohol not required in all social situations: Gen Z are split 50/50 on alcoholic vs. non-alcoholic drinks in social situations, with a third (34%) buying alcohol based purely on vibes.

Takeaway: Gen Z’s rising temperance may stem from the sharp divide in consumers’ perceptions of alcohol. In another study by our friends at Gallup, nearly 2 in 3 (65%) of 18- to 34-year-olds consider moderate drinking unhealthy, versus 37% of those 35 to 54 and 39% of those 55 and older.

Here’s Why You Should Not Use AI To Write Emails: Inc.-Harris Poll

As AI transforms the workplace, discriminating professionals are not leaving the job to AI – in our latest survey with Grammarly in Inc.

• Professionals (78%) report an increase in work communication over the last year, resulting in workers spending a staggering 88% of their workweek on communication.
• But, it’s communication – not technology – that drives performance: (64%) of business leaders say that strong communication increases productivity.
• Half (51%) also say it improves customer satisfaction and boosts employee confidence (49%).
• Meanwhile, poor communication is linked to a drop in productivity (40%), longer timelines (37%), and higher costs (32%).

Takeaway: AI can generate copy and write emails, but it can’t read what’s missing. It doesn’t pick up on emotional undercurrents or quiet frustration. That’s an unacceptable risk: when leaders rely on AI to communicate, they overlook the very things that require their attention most: tone, hesitation, disengagement, or the unspoken frustration that, if left unaddressed, can quietly erode a team.

GenAI Takes Over Gaming: Google Cloud-Harris Poll

At Europe’s most significant game developer event, we released new research with Google Cloud of over 600 game developers in the U.S., South Korea, Norway, Finland, and Sweden, revealing widespread adoption of generative (gen) AI in the games industry.

• GenAI already impacting workflows: An overwhelming (90%) of developers already use some form of AI in their game development workflows, with (97%) believing GenAI is reshaping the industry.
• AI is also being used in core parts of the creative workflow, with (36%) using it for dynamic level design, animation, and dialogue writing.
• There’s also enhanced experimentation with new gameplay and narrative concepts (37%) and increased flexibility in creative exploration (36%).
• Industry democratization: Developers see AI as a powerful tool for democratization, with a third (29%) believing it can level the playing field for smaller, independent studios to compete with more established players.

Takeaway: “AI is no longer a futuristic concept for the games industry – it’s a present-day reality that’s driving innovation and changing the very nature of how games are made and played,” said Jack Buser, global director for Games, Google Cloud. “From creating more responsive and immersive player experiences to accelerating development cycles, generative AI is empowering developers to push creative boundaries and build the next generation of games.”

Gen Z Wants To Work Forever – And Might Have To: NerdWallet-Harris Poll

Generation Z is the youngest adult generation in the U.S. today, giving those 18-28 year olds ample time to get financially prepared for retirement. But for many, it doesn’t appear to be a priority in a new Harris studywith NerdWallet.

• Retirement might not be in their plans: Three-quarters of Gen Z (75%) plan to stay in the workforce for as long as they physically can.
• And they might have to, given that less than a fifth of Gen Z (18%) have contributed to a retirement account in 2025.
• Social Security isn’t the backup they think it is: Two in five (43%) believe Social Security alone will provide enough income for them to live comfortably during retirement.

Takeaway: It can be easy to deprioritize a financial goal that’s decades away, like retirement savings, when dealing with more pressing money concerns, like student loan payments or rising living expenses. But getting started – whether it’s with $50 or $500 – and investing consistently can genuinely make a difference for your financial future. Mainly, when Social Security is meant to cover just a fraction of your income – about 40%, though this can vary – when you stop working, it does not replace it.