Generative AI and Generation Z: Redefining Language, Identity, and Communication in the Digital Workplace

Abstract This paper examines the intersection of Generation Z, artificial intelligence (AI), and workplace communication, focusing on how digitalization is reshaping professional discourse, leadership, and identity. As the first fully digital -native cohort, Generation Z operates within hybrid work environments increasingly mediated by AI -driven tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. These technologies influence tone, feedback, and collaboration, enhancing efficiency while simultaneously challenging authenticity, empathy, and intergenerational understanding. Gen Z’s communicative repertoire—marked by multimodality, informality, and visual semiotics such as emojis, memes, and abbreviations—serves both identity construction and peer bonding. Through a narrative review, the paper explores work values, collaboration preferences, and adaptive communication styles, emphasizing the importance of aligning communicative norms with the expectations of emerging generations. As a conclusion, it argues that AI functions not merely as a productivity enhancer but as a transformative linguistic force, demanding that workplaces balance technological fluency with inclusivity, relational connection, and ethical communication practices.