Gen Z claps back at awkward Thanksgiving conversations, with help from AI Assistant Shyla.

Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and… awkward conversations. As Gen Z prepares to gather with loved ones, many are dreading the inevitable tension that often arises around the dinner table. To better understand these challenges, Soul Machines, a leader in human-centered AI, surveyed 699 18–24 year olds. The results show a growing reliance on AI to help navigate difficult conversations and maintain peace during the holiday season.

Awkward Conversations
While more than 85% are excited to spend time with family, many Gen Z are anticipating uncomfortable conversations:

• 40% of respondents are dreading conversations about politics and social issues.
• 34% feel anxious about dealing with toxic family members
• 33% fear conflict about education or career choices.

In fact, 41% of Gen Z would rather do the entire pile of Thanksgiving dishes by hand than discuss “their future” with family.

Turning to AI for Support
Recognizing the need for support during family time, 40% of Gen Z surveyed said they are open to using an AI coach to practice communication skills and develop strategies for handling delicate situations.

“Gen Z craves innovative ways to navigate complex family dynamics,” says Darren Wilson, Chief Product Officer at Soul Machines. “Shyla goes beyond basic conversation practice by offering personalized techniques based on individual anxieties and desired outcomes. This empowers Gen Z to navigate Thanksgiving with confidence and maintain positive family connections.”

Meet Shyla, AI Conversation Coach
The latest addition to the suite of Soul Machines AI Assistants, Shyla is a revolutionary Conversation Coach, trained to help people learn techniques to steer difficult conversations and practice in a judgement-free space. Shyla was designed to empower Gen Z to make the most of their Holiday gatherings, focusing on quality conversations with loved ones instead of avoiding them.

Like all of Soul Machines AI Assistants, Shyla is powered by Experiential AI, a proprietary technology based on human biological and neurological systems of behavior and emotion. Shyla can see, hear, interact and even empathize with emotional intelligence, more like a real human.

Importantly, she answers a need uncovered by another Soul Machines study that showed 37% of Gen Z would use an AI Assistant to help them slay self-doubt and anxiety in social situations. Now, even the way we survive the holidays is being reshaped by the “transformer generation”.