New Poll Says Gen Z Is Thinking That AI Isn't All It's Cracked Up to Be

It's usually us old farts who will joke that if we have computer problems, we will go find a teenager to help us. Most of us are willing to concede that it's younger people who are on the cutting edge of whatever is hip and cool when it comes to tech. But a new poll says that it's young people who are having second thoughts about things like Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Everyone is so worried about what AI is going to do to their jobs.

Not enough people are worried about what Government is going to do with AI.

IYKYK.
— Young Americans for Liberty (@YALiberty) April 9, 2026

A new Gallup poll surveyed over 1,500 people aged 14-29 in February and March. What it showed is that the people you would think would be the most excited about AI are not. GenZers are becoming more negative about AI, even though at least half of them may be forced to use it regularly. It also showed that their enthusiasm for AI is waning, and their emotional responses have a lot to do with that. One year ago, 27 percent of those young people said they felt "hopeful" about AI. In 2026, that number had fallen to 18 percent. And while excitement for AI has gone down, almost one-third of respondents said that AI makes them feel "angry."

While there may be many more older people, myself included, who think "just because you can doesn't mean you should" of AI, that sentiment may also extend to young people. They are very wisely wondering what AI will mean for them as they enter the workforce and want to establish professional identities.

Zach Hrynowski is a senior education researcher for Gallup, who was also struck by some of the poll results. He said: “In most of these cases, Gen Z-ers have become increasingly skeptical, increasingly negative — from a place where even last year, they weren’t particularly positive about it."

While many of the respondents acknowledged the convenience and efficiency that AI provides in either work or school settings, they are concerned about how the technology will affect the development of crucial intellectual abilities like creativity and critical thinking.

Young people, who are just starting their careers, are trying to figure out which professions will insulate them from AI’s impact—or what jobs will benefit from it. https://t.co/yjNw7LvEpu
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) March 26, 2026

Some other interesting numbers from the survey were the fact that almost half of GenZers already in the workforce said that the risks of AI outweighed the benefits in the workplace, an almost 11-point percentage increase from 2025. Just 15 percent saw AI as a net benefit professionally. These young people are clearly concerned about what AI will mean for their future career prospects and job security.

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For a generation that was born into digital technology, even though they may use AI daily, Hrynowski says they are more "acutely aware" of AI's effect than perhaps someone in the middle of their career, and feel more threatened by it. And their feelings about AI correlated with how often they use AI. Daily users were more enthusiastic than weekly users.

Gen Z may not be as eager about embracing AI as they once were, but they also realize that it isn't going anywhere. The generation we might have never thought would be jaded by AI is becoming the most prepared for it.

Artificial intelligence is taking jobs from young people.

People in AI-exposed jobs between the age of 22-25 are seeing significant declines in employment.

30+ years old in the same roles are seeing employment grow.

Experience matters.

READ: https://t.co/416a6j0VXD pic.twitter.com/YjabRcuViq
— Anthony Pompliano 🌪 (@APompliano) April 10, 2026

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