A recent Pew Research Center poll highlights the mixed feelings of Gen Z regarding artificial intelligence (AI). While this generation is the most concerned about AI’s negative effects, it also leads in AI usage.
Gen Z’s AI Concerns
According to the poll, nearly half of Gen Z believes AI will negatively impact society in the next 20 years, with 48% expressing this view. Additionally, 37% think AI will have a negative effect on their personal lives. These figures are higher than the overall population, where 40% view societal impacts negatively, and 37% foresee negative personal impacts.
Only 14% of young adults aged 18 to 29 anticipate a positive societal impact from AI, and just 20% expect positive personal benefits. The initial excitement over AI tools like chatbots is tempered by skepticism about AI’s future influence.
Lee Rainie, former head of a Pew Research Center unit, remarked on Gen Z’s unique concerns regarding AI, stating their awareness of the job market changes and environmental impacts. This group has assimilated technology while wary of its implications.
Gen Z’s AI Use Compared to Other Generations
The survey reveals that 66% of Gen Z have used chatbots like ChatGPT or Gemini. This is more frequent than any other age group. In comparison, 61% of those aged 30 to 49 have tried chatbots, while just 42% of individuals aged 50 to 64, and 23% of those 65 or older, have done so.
Among active users, people aged 30 to 49 are more inclined to engage with chatbots daily, more so than those aged 18 to 29. Only 13% of people aged 50 to 64 and a mere 4% of those 65 and older report daily chatbot use.
College Graduates Challenge AI at Ceremonies
College ceremonies have recently witnessed skepticism toward AI. During speeches, commencement speakers who mention AI often face negative reactions. For example, Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s address in May provoked boos when he discussed AI’s pervasive impact.
Music executive Scott Borchetta encountered similar reactions at Middle Tennessee State University. These emotions reflect broader concerns as graduates enter a job market increasingly influenced by AI advancements.
Recent college graduates are experiencing higher unemployment rates at 5.6% in March 2026, compared to the general population’s 4.2%, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. At the same time, data center projects crucial for AI infrastructure face local opposition, with some areas considering restrictions.
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