What you need to know about Generation Beta 👶
Gen Z is all over the Internet, and you’ve probably heard about Gen Alpha, too. But did you know that 2025 is when a new generation – Generation Beta – is born?
In this article, we’ll dive deep into the predicted characteristics of the “Generation AI”, focusing on their relationship with technology, values, traits, and simply – their life.
All the numbers below come from Prudential’s research on Generation Beta (unless stated otherwise).
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What is Generation Beta?
Generation Beta (also called Generation AI, Generation Robot, or Space Agers) are people born between 2025 and 2039. They succeed Gen Z.
They are expected to grow up in a world transformed by advanced technology, environmental shifts, and evolving societal norms.
Always in beta mode
Although ‘Generation Beta’ is an informal label following ‘Generation Alpha’ in the Greek alphabet sequence, the name might stick because it represents a future of constant change.
- 79% of people surveyed by Prudential agree that ‘Generation Beta’ will exist in a constant “beta” mode—a state of continuous development—with shifting family dynamics, evolving education, changing job markets, and redefined retirement shaping their lives.
Learn more about Gen Z:
Generation Beta & technology
Generation Beta will likely develop a “chronically online” reputation. For them, technology will be not just a tool but an extension of their identities.
Gen Beta & AI
While Generation Alpha grew up with the emergence of AI, Generation Beta will experience a world where AI, robotics, and immersive technologies (AR/VR) are seamlessly integrated into literally every aspect of life
- Homes: 78% of parents believe robots will manage household tasks, and drone delivery for groceries will become commonplace.
- Healthcare: AI-driven diagnostics will personalize care, predicting and preventing illnesses for 59% of Gen Beta before symptoms appear.
- Education: 71% believe AI will replace traditional teachers.
Technology will shape every aspect of Gen Beta’s life, from convenience to relationships, work, and how they interact with the environment..
Traits & values
We can name 8 key traits & values typical to Gen Beta.
- Adaptive: In constant “beta mode,” required to adapt quickly to new challenges and opportunities
- Resilient: Having to deal with climate change, fast urbanization, and changing family models.
- Emotionally intelligent: Parents and teachers focus on helping Gen Beta build emotional strength, kindness, and creativity to balance out the influence of a tech-heavy world.
- Inclusive and diverse: 86% believe traditional family models will fade. Gen Beta will grow up with fluid, inclusive families and careers.
- Practical and finance-savvy: Many parents plan to save for their children’s retirement from birth, and Gen Beta is expected to prioritize long-term financial security over short-term rewards.
- Creative problem-solvers: With AI and the Internet, memorization and rote learning are no longer enough. Gen Beta must excel in intuition, emotional intelligence, and creativity. Their edge will come from synthesizing information, asking the right questions, and thinking critically in a world of instant knowledge.
- Focused on mental and emotional well-being: Unlike previous generations, Gen Beta will grow up with a stronger focus on mental health awareness and emotional intelligence.
- Redefiners of success: Traditional milestones, such as retirement, will evolve into flexible, purpose-driven life phases where self-care and continuous learning are prioritized (more on this in a second).
Life
What will shape Gen Bera most? The generation will most likely be the product of technology, climate change, mental health, political instability, and economic uncertainty.
What’s more, they will live in a world heavily monitored by data and AI (dataveillance). Even with longer lifespans, they’ll face challenges like higher costs and job loss from automation.
So, what will their lives look like?
Education
For Generation Beta, the future classroom won’t have rows of desks or chalkboards. Instead, it will be powered by AI and virtual reality.
With 71% of future parents expecting AI to replace traditional teachers, and immersive AR/VR tools take over for textbooks, learning will be tailored to each child’s unique strengths, turning education into a highly interactive, personalized experience.
This shift promises to make education more accessible and efficient, but it also raises questions about balance. Growing up in this world, Gen Beta will expect instant solutions and knowledge at their fingertips—a double-edged sword for a generation raised to think fast but perhaps not always deep.
Finance & retirement
Generation Beta is poised to live in a world where wealth and work look vastly different from anything their parents experienced. While 55% of experts predict this generation will be richer than their predecessors, 61% believe they’ll face greater financial uncertainty—a paradox fueled by the rise of digital currencies and the likely end of printed cash. In fact, 60% expect governments to phase out cash altogether, marking a seismic shift in financial systems.
The ripple effects don’t stop there. With 72% predicting the minimum retirement age will rise to 75, work will become a lifelong endeavor. Gen Beta’s golden years won’t look like the traditional retire-at-65 model. Instead, “mini-retirements” will define their lives—short breaks for self-care or reinvention sprinkled throughout decades of work. By 2050, two-thirds of experts believe retirement will be a fluid concept, with people dipping in and out of it as they pursue flexible, adaptive careers.
The numbers underscore an urgent reality: financial planning will start early—very early. A staggering 80% of future parents believe saving for their child’s retirement should begin at birth. And with healthcare costs, inflation, and automation tightening the squeeze on finances, Gen Beta will need about $1.88 million for retirement—but they’re projected to fall $700,000 short.
Schools, meanwhile, are falling behind. Over 80% of respondents think today’s education systems fail to prepare students for the complex financial landscape ahead. This has sparked a push for early financial literacy programs to help Gen Beta navigate a world where personalized, adaptable retirement plans will be the norm.
The future of retirement isn’t just about financial survival—it’s about personal fulfillment. A majority (66%) of experts envision a world where Gen Beta doesn’t save solely for heirs but for themselves, prioritizing self-care and new experiences. “Me-retirement,” as it’s being called, reflects a shift in mindset. Retirement will no longer be a finish line—it will be a series of pit stops on a longer, healthier journey.
Career
For Generation Beta, the idea of a single lifelong career will seem as outdated as fax machines. Instead, their work lives will be a whirlwind of reinvention—holding over 3 distinct career paths and changing jobs more than 10 times. Think climate change reversal specialists, human-tech integration experts, and roles we can’t yet imagine. Nearly 90% of experts agree: most of their jobs don’t even exist yet.
Forget the 9-to-5 grind—nearly three-quarters of predictions suggest rigid schedules will give way to fluid workweeks. Offices may become optional as AI and automation transform how we work.
This constant evolution comes with its own set of challenges. Collaboration with AI will become second nature. To thrive, Gen Beta will need to be lifelong learners, always ready to upskill and pivot. Their careers will be as dynamic and multifaceted as the generation itself.
Daily life & socialization
While over half of experts predict this generation will be wealthier than their parents, 61% predict they’ll face more financial uncertainty as digital currencies change how money works and blur the line between real and virtual wealth.
Nearly 80% believe most of their interactions will happen online, in virtual spaces powered by AI, AR, and VR. Instead of scrolling Instagram, they’ll explore personalized, niche communities where AI tailors every experience. Call it the fediverse: a splintered yet connected world of micro-ecosystems catering to every whim.
This tech-driven utopia (or dystopia?) comes with risks. Relying too much on virtual spaces could weaken personal relationships. Families might drift apart as technology replaces meaningful in-person moments. The drive-thru staffed by teenagers? Gone. Automation will dominate industries like food service, so even these mini-human interactions will be gone.
Experts warn that if Gen Beta doesn’t focus on real-world connections, they could face more loneliness, isolation, and mental health challenges.
Health
- 51% believe cancer will be cured, but only 40% are optimistic about eradicating obesity.
- 71% predict healthcare will become personalized through DNA-based treatments.
- AI is expected to predict and prevent illnesses for 59% of Generation Beta.
Family
- 68% predict more households will prioritize pets over children.
- Multigenerational living will increase, with 20% foreseeing no standard family structure by 2050.
Sustainability
- 61% believe renewable energy will replace fossil fuels by 2050, with AI and tech driving innovation in sustainability.
- Lab-grown food, smart cities, and climate tech solutions will become central to how Gen Beta addresses global environmental challenges.
- They will likely embrace renewable energy, lab-grown food, and circular economies as standard practices.
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As Generation Beta approaches, companies need to get ready – and fast. Their world will be built on AI and constant change. While most businesses are still struggling with today’s tech, smart ones are already preparing for tomorrow.
Want to prepare your company for Generation Beta? We can help with:
- AI Integration & Development: We build smart systems that work for people, not against them
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Just drop us a line & make sure you’re ready for the next generation.
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