Podcast based on an interview by Catalina Mihai (podcast edited by Madalina Mihai).
In a world obsessed with speed, optimisation and constant productivity, designer Ioana Teleanu sees something unexpected: Gen Z is slowing down — on purpose.
After analysing recent research on the generation, Teleanu says today’s young people have a different relationship with technology than the one adults developed.
“Gen Z is tougher on technology. They set boundaries. They don’t want everything to be faster or more optimised. They want friction — because that’s where real growth happens.”
AI comments everywhere — and the risk of losing human voice
Teleanu says one of the strangest online trends is happening on LinkedIn, where many users rely on generative AI to write comments or replies.
“I instantly recognise AI-written comments. And they’re not made by bots — they’re made by people letting AI speak for them.”
The problem, she explains, isn’t the tool — it’s giving up your own voice.
“If I stop talking to you and start talking to what a system writes for you, the essence of communication disappears.”
Europe vs. the U.S.: Two digital cultures, two different mindsets
After a recent trip to San Francisco — the capital of global tech — Teleanu noticed a clear contrast between the two sides of the world.
In the U.S., technology feels like a constant race: pitching, optimising, scaling, accelerating.
“If you’re not in tech, you almost feel like you don’t belong. Everything is uniform, everyone is selling something. It’s a bit dystopian.”
Meanwhile, Europe remains more human-centred: “Europeans still ask questions: What’s ethical? How do we protect people? What happens to our data? There’s still a social and philosophical layer.”
A gap in education — and why universities can’t keep up
Teleanu points out that formal education has fallen behind the pace of innovation.
Curricula change slowly; technology changes weekly.
“The academic world is always one step behind — sometimes ten. Students realised that to work in tech, it’s better to learn directly from people already in the industry.”
In Romania, she says, this gap has been even more visible.
She founded a design school to cover exactly this need — and it filled up quickly.
Responsibility, AI literacy, and the role of experts
For Teleanu, responsibility doesn’t start with institutions — it starts with individuals and communities who teach, share, and help others adapt.
“States need to adapt fast. We need AI literacy. We need people to understand what they use and why.”
But many countries — even the U.S. — are still far behind.
Gen Z: more responsible, more aware, less impressed by hype
Teleanu’s biggest insight is also the most hopeful one:
“Gen Z uses AI more responsibly than we do. They’re not impressed by everything being 10x faster. They want meaning. They want balance.”
They’ve grown up surrounded by technology, and precisely because of that, they set limits early.
They ask what technology does to them — not only what it does for them.
“They face a bigger digital danger than we did, and they know it. That’s why they put up boundaries. And that’s healthy.”
A career built on design, ethics, and community
With over 15 years in multinational tech companies and roles at UiPath and Miro, Teleanu has helped shape major AI-driven products — including Clipboard AI, named Time Magazine’s Best Invention of 2023.
Today, she’s a consultant and the creator of Uxgoodies, a global community where thousands learn about design and AI.
“I wanted to make people in tech feel less alone. That’s what community is for.”
The future? Messy, fast — but not hopeless
Despite the uncertainty, Teleanu believes Gen Z brings something essential to the table:
a sense of responsibility and a refusal to be overwhelmed.
“Technology can be overwhelming. They know that. And they draw the line. That’s something we can all learn from.”
This podcast in Romanian is part of PulseZ. #PulseZ