What is the story about?
Gen Z is not abandoning artificial intelligence. But it is no longer embracing it with the same optimism.
A new study conducted by Gallup in partnership with GSV Ventures and the Walton Family Foundation paints a nuanced picture of how young Americans are navigating the rapid rise of AI tools. Usage levels have remained largely unchanged over the past year, yet sentiment is shifting sharply. Excitement is fading, scepticism is deepening, and concern about real-world consequences is growing.
At a time when headlines are dominated by layoffs, automation fears, and restructuring across industries, this shift in perception is not occurring in a vacuum. Instead, it reflects a generation coming to terms with the practical realities of an AI-driven economy.
Despite the growing unease, AI is firmly embedded in Gen Z’s daily routines. Just over half of those aged 14 to 29 report using AI tools either daily or weekly, signalling that the technology is no longer novel but habitual.
Yet frequency of use does not translate into enthusiasm. The study shows a notable decline in positive emotions such as excitement and hopefulness, both of which were already modest last year. In contrast, feelings of anger have risen, while anxiety remains persistently high. Curiosity stands out as the dominant emotion, suggesting that while interest in AI persists, it is increasingly cautious and exploratory rather than celebratory.
This emotional shift highlights a key transition. AI is moving from being perceived as a fascinating innovation to a powerful, and potentially disruptive, force that demands scrutiny.
Perhaps the most telling insight lies in how Gen Z views AI in the workplace. Nearly half of young workers believe the risks of AI outweigh its benefits, a striking figure at a time when companies across sectors are cutting jobs while simultaneously investing in automation and AI systems.
The fear is particularly acute around entry-level roles. These positions, traditionally seen as stepping stones into the workforce, are widely perceived as the most vulnerable to automation. For a generation already entering a volatile job market, AI is increasingly associated with shrinking opportunities rather than expanding them.
This aligns with a broader narrative playing out globally. As firms restructure and streamline operations, many are prioritising efficiency gains through AI over human hiring, especially at the junior level. Gen Z appears acutely aware of this shift, and it is shaping their outlook in profound ways.
Even as doubts grow, Gen Z recognises that AI is becoming unavoidable in education and careers. More than half of students believe they will need AI skills for higher education, and nearly half say such skills will be essential for their future jobs.
Confidence in their ability to use AI is also rising, particularly among school students. However, this growing competence is accompanied by caution. Young people remain divided on whether AI improves access to accurate information, and many believe it may harm creativity and critical thinking.
Perceptions of AI-driven productivity are also slipping. Fewer respondents now believe AI helps them complete work faster or learn more efficiently, suggesting that initial expectations of transformative gains are being reassessed.
This tension, between recognising necessity and questioning value, defines Gen Z’s current stance on AI in education.
The study ultimately reveals a generation grappling with contradiction. Gen Z is neither rejecting AI nor fully trusting it. Instead, it is engaging with the technology pragmatically, using it where necessary while questioning its broader implications.
In many ways, this reflects a maturing perspective. Early hype cycles are giving way to lived experience, shaped by real-world developments such as layoffs, workplace disruption, and evolving academic norms.
AI, for Gen Z, is no longer just a tool of possibility. It is also a source of uncertainty. And as that balance continues to shift, their cautious curiosity may prove to be one of the most defining attitudes of the AI era.
A new study conducted by Gallup in partnership with GSV Ventures and the Walton Family Foundation paints a nuanced picture of how young Americans are navigating the rapid rise of AI tools. Usage levels have remained largely unchanged over the past year, yet sentiment is shifting sharply. Excitement is fading, scepticism is deepening, and concern about real-world consequences is growing.
At a time when headlines are dominated by layoffs, automation fears, and restructuring across industries, this shift in perception is not occurring in a vacuum. Instead, it reflects a generation coming to terms with the practical realities of an AI-driven economy.
AI adoption steady, but emotional disconnect widens
Despite the growing unease, AI is firmly embedded in Gen Z’s daily routines. Just over half of those aged 14 to 29 report using AI tools either daily or weekly, signalling that the technology is no longer novel but habitual.
Yet frequency of use does not translate into enthusiasm. The study shows a notable decline in positive emotions such as excitement and hopefulness, both of which were already modest last year. In contrast, feelings of anger have risen, while anxiety remains persistently high. Curiosity stands out as the dominant emotion, suggesting that while interest in AI persists, it is increasingly cautious and exploratory rather than celebratory.
This emotional shift highlights a key transition. AI is moving from being perceived as a fascinating innovation to a powerful, and potentially disruptive, force that demands scrutiny.
AI job fears, layoffs anxiety and entry-level uncertainty
Perhaps the most telling insight lies in how Gen Z views AI in the workplace. Nearly half of young workers believe the risks of AI outweigh its benefits, a striking figure at a time when companies across sectors are cutting jobs while simultaneously investing in automation and AI systems.
The fear is particularly acute around entry-level roles. These positions, traditionally seen as stepping stones into the workforce, are widely perceived as the most vulnerable to automation. For a generation already entering a volatile job market, AI is increasingly associated with shrinking opportunities rather than expanding them.
This aligns with a broader narrative playing out globally. As firms restructure and streamline operations, many are prioritising efficiency gains through AI over human hiring, especially at the junior level. Gen Z appears acutely aware of this shift, and it is shaping their outlook in profound ways.
AI in education: Necessity meets scepticism
Even as doubts grow, Gen Z recognises that AI is becoming unavoidable in education and careers. More than half of students believe they will need AI skills for higher education, and nearly half say such skills will be essential for their future jobs.
Confidence in their ability to use AI is also rising, particularly among school students. However, this growing competence is accompanied by caution. Young people remain divided on whether AI improves access to accurate information, and many believe it may harm creativity and critical thinking.
Perceptions of AI-driven productivity are also slipping. Fewer respondents now believe AI helps them complete work faster or learn more efficiently, suggesting that initial expectations of transformative gains are being reassessed.
This tension, between recognising necessity and questioning value, defines Gen Z’s current stance on AI in education.
The study ultimately reveals a generation grappling with contradiction. Gen Z is neither rejecting AI nor fully trusting it. Instead, it is engaging with the technology pragmatically, using it where necessary while questioning its broader implications.
In many ways, this reflects a maturing perspective. Early hype cycles are giving way to lived experience, shaped by real-world developments such as layoffs, workplace disruption, and evolving academic norms.
AI, for Gen Z, is no longer just a tool of possibility. It is also a source of uncertainty. And as that balance continues to shift, their cautious curiosity may prove to be one of the most defining attitudes of the AI era.
