MONTHLY CURATED READS ON GEN Z IN THE WORKPLACE

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In the United States, fewer teenagers are getting their driver’s licenses today than in decades past. But they’ll still be on the road—just not in the driver’s seat. Instead, Gen Z may be the first generation to fully embrace the idea of not driving at all—transitioning from “drivers” to “riders.” (Hello, “passenger princes and princesses.”) That’s all thanks to the rise of self-driving cars, which are quickly shifting gears from concept or prototype to deployment. 

The contours of that future state are taking shape, according to McKinsey Senior Partner Philipp Kampshoff and other McKinsey autonomous-vehicle (AV) experts who shared their reflections on the future of self-driving cars.
 
For one thing, the cost of AVs is likely to decline sharply (good news for Gen Zers who already face a high cost of living and for whom car ownership is cost prohibitive). McKinsey research found that costs related to AVs could decrease by 80 percent over the next decade as the lifespans of autonomous-driving systems increase and AV players improve their operations.

With a growing fleet of AVs already on the road, how will tomorrow’s self-driving experience differ from today’s? McKinsey Partner Emily Shao posed this question to tech investor Laurie Yoler, who said that AVs of the future could become spaces for relaxation and voice- or audio-based entertainment. But the quality of visual experiences will “depend on how rough the road is,” she said, adding, “Being able to make a great phone call, not worry about the safety of the vehicle, and have personal time or time with friends is going to be excellent.”

Kampshoff, for his part, imagines future AVs going one step further: “Why not imagine, instead of robo-taxis, robo-hotel rooms? A hotel room comes to your house, you get into it with your family … and when you wake up, you are in Miami.”

In one McKinsey survey from 2023, half of car buyers said they could see themselves switching to an AV in the future. While today’s drivers—Gen Zers included—may be increasingly comfortable with the idea of a fully autonomous future, they may not be willing to hand over the keys just yet. Carmakers still have to build trust with the next generation of riders: by communicating AV safety records more broadly, for example. 
 
Still, the shift from driver to rider is a transformation that could reshape how Gen Zers define and experience mobility—and their independence, too. For decades, freedom on the road meant, for many, gripping the steering wheel. In the decades ahead, freedom may mean letting go.

VISUALIZE IT

In 2019, China exported 700,000 cars globally; by 2024, that number rose to 5.5 million, surpassing exports from Japan, Mexico, and Germany.

WAIT, DON’T SCROLL

New coworker onboarding. AI agents are moving from pilot stage to the org chart.

Concrete plans. Infrastructure is so much more than bridges and roads.

Pencil thin. In the United States, K–12 school leaders expect another year of lean budgets and tough trade-offs.

NOT US; STILL GREAT

Hold the algorithm. Inside the invite-only WhatsApp groups, Instagram sellers, and Substack newsletters that are turning vintage shopping into a communal event. [Bustle]

Dog days of podcasting. As AI-generated content floods feeds, are “dog podcasters” the next big content creators? [Bloomberg]

CROSSWORD

—Edited by Alexandra Mondalek, editor, New York