The Survey

Our main goal with our survey was to explore the why behind behavior: the emotions and drivers that are key shapers of Gen Z's attitudes and actions. We wanted to look beyond surface-level metrics on usage and time spent, especially for a generation shaped by a uniquely turbulent cultural and technological moment.

​

With a human-centered, design-thinking approach, the Stanford Entertainment Lab and USC Art.ificial set out to explore Gen Z’s deeper feelings about generative AI: how they want it to shape the content they consume and the stories they create. To do this, we ran a survey with relevant questions and distributed the survey across our schools.

​

In March 2025, we heard from 114 students, mostly from Stanford and USC, spanning diverse majors and creative interests. While modest in size, the survey had consistent results from which we were able to discern clear, actionable insights into what Gen Z hopes the future of AI in entertainment can be.