TLDR
- 64% of Gen Z respondents would use AI chatbots for help with debt, compared with 69% of Millennials.
- The survey was conducted by National Debt Relief and Wakefield Research.
- 53% of Gen Z and 63% of Millennials feel more comfortable discussing money problems with a computer.
- 65% of Gen Z respondents said they gamble to help deal with their debts.
- The share drops with age: 49% of Millennials, 39% of Gen X, and 19% of Boomers.
Young Americans are turning to AI chatbots for help with debt and budgets, according to a new survey. The poll was conducted by National Debt Relief and Wakefield Research and compared answers from Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers.
The survey found that 64% of Gen Z respondents would use a chatbot if they had problems with debt. Millennials were even more likely, with 69% saying they would do the same.
The results also show that many young people gamble as a way to deal with their debts. The findings point to two very different ways younger adults are handling money stress.
Chatbots Become a Place for Money Questions
National Debt Relief said AI tools like ChatGPT have become a place where users ask about income, spending, debt, and budgeting. Users can ask how to handle debt, plan a budget, and manage money better.
The survey suggested that chatbots appeal to younger users for one main reason. They offer a space to talk about money problems without feeling judged.
Cathleen Bell is Vice President of Customer Research and Insights at National Debt Relief. She said the data shows younger Americans are still willing to seek help with their finances.
However, Bell said the places they turn to for support are changing. Chatbots are becoming more available, and more people are using them.
Some respondents said they felt more at ease talking to a machine. Among Millennials, 63% said they felt better discussing their money problems with a chatbot or computer.
For Gen Z, that number was 53%. The results suggest some people find it easier to talk about debt and budgets through a digital platform.
Gambling Linked to Debt Concerns
The study also looked at gambling habits across age groups. Some respondents said they keep gambling while dealing with financial stress.
Among Gen Z participants, 65% were regular gamblers who said gambling helped them because they had debts they wanted to pay off. That was the highest share of any generation.
Millennials came next, with 49% saying gambling helps them cope with debt. The figure dropped to 39% among Gen X respondents.
Boomers had the lowest share in the poll. Just 19% said they gamble to try to deal with their debts.
The poll noted that debt is a major reason some people gamble. But it also found that gambling does not necessarily explain why their debt grew in the first place.
The survey suggests that some people see gambling as a possible fix for money problems. At the same time, many younger adults are separately looking for help through AI chatbots.
Gen Z has been linked to sports betting and prediction markets. Some users treat these products as part of a money strategy rather than just entertainment.
The survey compared how each generation responds to money pressure. Gen Z had the highest share of people gambling to cope with debt.
Millennials, meanwhile, had the highest share of people willing to use chatbots for help. The findings show that different age groups are choosing different ways to handle their finances.
