More than half of Gen Zers in the US use generative AI regularly. So you’d think they’d be its biggest cheerleaders. As it turns out, not so much.
According to a New York Times report, a new survey by Gallup, the Walton Family Foundation, and GSV Ventures surveyed more than 1,500 people aged 14 to 29 and found that Gen Z is growing increasingly skeptical of the technology they use every day.
Is the excitement wearing off?
The numbers are pretty telling. Excitement for AI dropped 14 percentage points since last year, hopefulness fell nine points, while anger rose by nine points. Only 18% of Gen Zers say AI makes them feel hopeful, and just 22% say it excites them. Meanwhile, 42% report feeling anxious about it, and 31% feel outright angry.
What’s interesting is that even daily users, who are generally more positive about AI, are becoming less optimistic. Among those who use AI every day, excitement and hopefulness dropped 18 points and 11 points, respectively, compared to last year. More access clearly isn’t translating into more confidence.
What’s driving the frustration?
A big part of it comes down to what Gen Z thinks AI is doing to their brains. A whopping 8 in 10 respondents said it is likely that using AI tools will make it harder for them to learn in the future. They are also skeptical about its impact on creativity and critical thinking, with 38% and 42% respectively saying AI will do more harm than good in those areas.
The workplace isn’t looking much rosier. Among employed Gen Zers, 48% say the risks of AI outweigh the benefits, compared to just 15% who see it as a net positive. Trust in AI-assisted work is also low, with 69% saying they trust work done without AI more.
That said, Gen Z isn’t giving up. Close to half of high schoolers believe AI skills will be necessary for their future careers. They’re not ignoring it, they’re just going in with their eyes wide open.