3 Reasons Millennials Are Driving the AI Revolution
3 Reasons Millennials Are Driving the AI Revolution
By 2030, AI could add nearly $20 trillion to the global economy. One generation may be best positioned to harness the potential of the AI revolution: millennials.
In this infographic from MSCI, we explore why millennials are driving the shift to AI.
1. Educational Edge
Millennials are more likely to have a higher education compared to previous generations.
| Generation | Range of Age Group with Bachelor’s Degree or Higher |
|---|---|
| Millennials | 38-43% |
| Gen X | 34-43% |
| Baby Boomers | 30-35% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
More educated people tend to earn more and are more likely to learn new skills on the job. As the AI revolution disrupts industries and job departments, new skills will be integrated in the workplace and millennials are primed for this transition.
2. High Acceptance of the AI Revolution
Millennials are much more likely to trust and accept AI than older generations.
| Generation | % Who Trust AI | % with High Acceptance of AI |
|---|---|---|
| Millennials and Younger | 42% | 40% |
| Gen X | 37% | 31% |
| Baby Boomers | 33% | 22% |
Source: KPMG, The University of Queensland.
In this, this translates to higher adoption. A separate study found millennials are more likely to find AI useful at work. This practical application could be a key to success during the AI revolution.
3. Early Exposure to Technology
Millennials have lived through many technological innovations during their childhood and early adult years.
| Technology Milestone | Age of Millennials |
|---|---|
| First web browser and website released | 10 and under |
| Bluetooth is released | 3-18 |
| The iPhone is released, popularizing touchscreen technology | 11-26 |
| Amazon Echo, a smart speaker with an AI-powered voice assistant, is launched | 18-33 |
| ChatGPT is released | 26-41 |
Source: Our World in Data, Britannica, Weber State University, Fortune, Forbes.
Millennials’ early exposure to technology has likely contributed to greater comfort and confidence with it, as children typically learn faster than adults.
Measuring the Market
Along with AI, millennials are influencing many areas of the market.
MSCI’s millennial indexes aim to represent companies that create products and services targeted at millennials. The MSCI ACWI IMI Millennials index, for instance, is diversified among sectors.
| Sector | Weight |
|---|---|
| Communication Services | 26.9% |
| Consumer Discretionary | 18.9% |
| Consumer Staples | 18.2% |
| Information Technology | 17.6% |
| Financials | 12.7% |
| Other | 5.9% |
Source: MSCI as of November 29, 2024. Numbers may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
The top 5 constituents are Apple, Visa, Meta, Amazon and Nvidia, which each held a weight of close to 5% in the index as of November 2024.
From November 2014 to November 2024, the MSCI ACWI IMI Millennials Index has outperformed its benchmark by 65%.
MSCI’s millennial indexes are objective, regularly updated, and aim to capture the evolving impact of the millennial generation.
Want to learn more? Explore MSCI’s millennial indexes.
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