A new Gallup study reveals a stark generational divide on artificial intelligence. Only 22% of Americans aged 14-29 say they are excited about AI, down 14 points in a single year. Hopefulness dropped to 18%, while anger climbed to 31%.
Even daily AI users mirror the trend: excitement fell 18 points among them.
MIT psychologist Sherry Turkle notes, "There has been a great deal of evidence that we have launched ourselves over and over again in technology dreams that have turned out not to be really in our human interest." Gen Z is applying that hard-won lesson to AI.
Their specific fears center on cognition. Eight in ten believe AI will make learning harder. 42% say it will harm their ability to think carefully about information. 38% fear it will stifle independent ideas.
In the workplace, skepticism runs deep. 48% of employed Gen Zers say AI's risks outweigh benefits. 69% trust work completed without AI more than AI-assisted work. Only 3% prefer AI-only output.
As the Gallup authors conclude, "Concerns among Gen Z that AI may undermine skill development appear to be outweighing its perceived efficiency gains."
The generation raised inside the last great tech revolution is signaling caution. They aren't rejecting progress; they are refusing to repeat the same costly trade-offs.