Public Sentiment Towards AI Shows Signs of Downturn, Especially Among Younger Generations
Public sentiment toward Artificial Intelligence (AI) appears to be entering a downturn, following a typical technology hype cycle. A 2026 Gallup poll indicates that U.S. members of Gen Z (18-29-year-olds), despite having the highest adoption rate of AI, feel less hopeful and excited about the technology compared to a year ago. This shift is also reflected in public reactions, such as former Google CEO Eric Schmidt being booed at the University of Arizona in May 2026 when mentioning AI. Furthermore, the Merriam-Webster 2025 word of the year, 'slop,' describes low-quality or incredible AI-generated content, highlighting growing disaffection. While AI developers and researchers generally hold positive perceptions, a 2025 Pew poll found only 17% of the American public shares this view, indicating a polarized sentiment.