In recent years, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology has brought significant changes to our daily lives. Generative AI services like ChatGPT and Google Gemini have become deeply integrated into the academic and work environments of Gen Z and millennials. In this article, we will examine how younger generations are utilizing these two AI services and what criteria determine their preferences.
Korean Youth's AI Usage Status
The use of generative AI has already become commonplace among college students. According to a survey of 1,000 college students, 71.2% responded that they currently use generative AI such as ChatGPT or Gemini. Even more surprising, 23.3% answered that they "use it almost daily," while 26.5% said they "use it 3-4 times per week," showing that a significant number of college students are incorporating AI into their daily lives.
Perceptions of AI services are also positive. In the same survey, 75.6% of college students evaluated AI technology positively, and regarding trustworthiness, "I trust it" (41.7%) and "neutral" (41.9%) showed similar percentages. This indicates a balanced attitude that favors appropriate utilization and verification rather than complete trust.
ChatGPT's Strengths and Use Cases
ChatGPT has established itself as the most widely used generative AI service among Korean Generation Z, showing an overwhelming awareness rate of 96.4%. Behind this high awareness and usage rate are several notable strengths.
Natural Conversational Ability
ChatGPT's greatest strength is its natural conversational flow and ability to understand context. ChatGPT is highly regarded for its usefulness especially when asking questions about complex topics in multiple stages, as it remembers and connects previous conversation content well in its responses.
Various Areas of Application
ChatGPT is being utilized for various purposes among college students, including:
- Information Retrieval (66.7%)To obtain information in a more organized format than traditional search engines
- Report and Essay Writing (59.0%): Utilized for structuring text, idea discovery, editing, etc.
- Coding Help (47.3%)Providing code writing and debugging support for programming assignments or personal projects
- Language Learning (42.1%): For foreign language sentence correction, expression recommendations, conversation practice, etc.
There are many cases of using ChatGPT daily for creating work-related documents or proofreading English emails. In particular, the GPT-4 model of ChatGPT Plus is receiving positive feedback for greatly improving work efficiency by accurately understanding complex content and creating professional documents.
Google Gemini's Competitive Edge
Google's Gemini has relatively low awareness and usage in Korea compared to ChatGPT, but it is steadily growing. What are the unique strengths of Google Gemini?
Integration with the Google Ecosystem
Gemini's biggest competitive advantage is its seamless integration with Google Workspace (Google Docs, Gmail, Drive, etc.). For students who write school assignments using Google Docs, Gemini offers the convenience of providing assistance directly within the document. It's been praised for maintaining workflow continuity by allowing users to receive AI help directly within Workspace without needing to open separate windows or copy and paste content.
Strengths of Multimodal Functions
Gemini is excellent at processing various formats of data including not only text but also images, PDFs, tables, and more. In particular, Gemini Advanced is gaining attention for the following capabilities:
- NotebookLM PlusUpload lecture notes or research materials for support with summaries, audio outline generation, mind map creation, and more
- Veo 2 and WhiskText-based Video Creation and Creative Content Production through Image and Text Combinations
- Gemini LiveVoice Conversations for Natural Interaction
Gemini is highly regarded for its exceptional ability to analyze images and PDFs, making it a great help in understanding class materials and academic papers. In particular, the Gemini Live feature is considered advantageous for efficient time management as it allows users to ask questions by voice even while exercising or on the move.
Factors Determining MZ Generation's Preferences
So, what criteria do younger generations use when selecting AI services? According to research findings, the following factors play an important role:
Service Accessibility
While ChatGPT provides its service through an independent website and mobile app, Gemini can be accessed through various channels such as Google Search, Google Apps, and Workspace. In this regard, ChatGPT requires launching a separate app, but Gemini has an advantage in terms of accessibility as it can be used directly from the Google search bar.
Accuracy and Reliability
Accuracy and reliability of information are important criteria when choosing an AI. When searching for academic information, there are evaluations suggesting that ChatGPT Plus with GPT-4 provides more accurate and in-depth information. However, for the latest information, there are opinions that Gemini provides more reliable results due to its integration with web search functionality.
Quality of Free Services
Economic factors are also important considerations. When comparing free versions, ChatGPT offers the GPT-3.5 model, while Gemini provides the basic Gemini 1.5 model. College students tend to make their choices by considering the performance, limitations, and usage restrictions of the free versions.
Purpose-Based Selection
MZ generations tend to choose different AI tools depending on the specific task:
- Creative Writing, Coding: ChatGPT Preference
- Academic Data Analysis, Presentation Material Preparation: Gemini Preference
- Foreign Language Learning: Similar preferences on both sides
Google's Free Product Strategy for College Students
Recently, Google has been taking aggressive steps to increase the market share of Gemini. From April 2025, it started a promotion offering the 'Google One AI Premium' plan free for one year to university students. This plan, normally priced at $20 per month (approximately 28,000 KRW), includes features such as Gemini Advanced, AI assistant within Google Workspace, Gemini Live, and 2TB of Google Drive storage.
This strategy is interpreted as an intention to first target younger generations to increase demand for AI-based productivity tools in the long term. When students become accustomed to specific AI services during college, they are more likely to continue using those services after entering the workforce. Google's promotion is analyzed as a strategic decision to overcome relatively lower awareness compared to ChatGPT and capture the hearts of the younger generation.
Future Outlook and Implications
Competition between ChatGPT and Gemini is expected to intensify further in the future. Both services are enhancing user experience through continuous feature improvements and model upgrades, while particularly strengthening their marketing strategies to target college students and young professionals.
According to digital trend analysis, the key factors in selecting AI services in the future are expected to be personalized learning abilities and specialized functions. The prevailing outlook suggests that AI that learns users' styles and habits to provide more customized services will gain a competitive advantage.
ChatGPT and Gemini each have their own strengths and limitations, so it can be a good strategy to use the two services complementarily depending on the situation and purpose. You might primarily use ChatGPT for creative writing and generating ideas, while using Gemini for research and presentation preparation.
Ultimately, what matters is how effectively you integrate AI tools into your studies and work. AI is valuable not as a replacement for human creativity and critical thinking, but as a tool that expands and supports them.
