"I Got Hired but Can't Use a Keyboard"... The Challenge Making Gen Z New Hires Sweat [The World is Z-Gold]

Generation Z, Accustomed to Touchscreens
Returns to Keyboard as AI Use Grows
Practicing Typing to Give Detailed Instructions to AI

Editor's NoteGeneration Z (those born from the late 1990s to the early 2010s) is in the spotlight as a generation that leads culture and trends in a rapidly changing era, setting new standards across all sectors of society. In [World Z Fund], we shed light on the lives and values of Generation Z around the world and look into how they are transforming society.

Members of Generation Z, often called 'digital natives', are immersing themselves in keyboard typing practice. For young people who are accustomed to touchscreens such as smartphones or tablet PCs, keyboards were somewhat unfamiliar tools. However, an increasing number are practicing typing to communicate their ideas to artificial intelligence (AI) more quickly and accurately.

"As the world changes rapidly, we need to type even faster"

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On September 27 (local time), Business Insider reported that as the use of AI has grown, typing skills are once again becoming important among young professionals and students.

Generation Z is a generation that has mainly entered text through smartphones and tablets. Many did not have the opportunity to learn computer keyboard skills systematically and were used to using just two fingers—the so-called 'hunt and peck' method. However, as generative AI is now being used for work and study, the situation is changing. To get the desired results from AI, specific and precise prompts must be entered, and typing these directly can be more efficient than explaining at length via speech.

In fact, Julia Andrusiak (26) began keyboard practice while attending university because her typing speed was slow. She now works in an AI-related field and still uses voice input for composing long prompts. However, she admitted that she feels self-conscious about it since it can look like she is talking to herself in the office. She said, "As the world changes faster, we have to type faster too," although she also expressed concerns about relying too much on AI.

Andrei Gerasimov (23), who graduated with a degree in computer engineering, began practicing typing while chatting in games and can now type 170 words per minute. He said that fast typing skills are also helpful in drafting AI prompts. Being able to instantly type out thoughts and ideas allows him to communicate his intentions to AI more clearly.

"Typing can help you find calm"

The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. AI-generated image.

The need for typing education for younger generations unfamiliar with keyboards is also growing. Andreas Frančazi (36), an IT teacher who teaches typing to students in Vienna, Austria, also noted that students' keyboard skills have declined compared to previous generations. Many students who are proficient with smartphones are, in fact, less skilled when it comes to keyboard use. Frančazi is currently teaching students who type with just two fingers the basics of proper typing.

Watching students immerse themselves in a three-minute typing test, he explained that typing practice could feel like a kind of meditation. Frančazi said, "The process itself can be quite meditative; as you type each letter in front of you one by one, you feel a bit calmer."

Practicing typing is more than just learning to use a keyboard—it can also aid actual study and work. Tarun Krishnamurthy (18), a sophomore at San Diego State University, said he has been practicing typing since middle school, which has helped him keep up with fast-paced lectures. He commented, "I consider myself lucky that I can follow along in lectures," adding that "other students might find it difficult since they have to look at the keyboard instead of the professor."

This typing skill can also be a valuable asset at work. Krishnamurthy explained that slow typing speed can delay work and that being able to quickly input text without looking at the keyboard can be a strength in the age of AI. In an environment where efficiency is important, he said, "Typing speed can be a major obstacle."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.