Gen Z in the U.S. Growing Increasingly Negative Toward AI
Negative sentiment toward artificial intelligence among Gen Z has increased significantly over the past year. According to a survey published by Gallup, the Walton Family Foundation, and GSV Ventures, a substantial share of young people are concerned that AI could harm their learning processes.
According to the research, although young people acknowledge the speed and convenience provided by AI, concerns about its potential to make learning more difficult have increased significantly over the past year. A more critical perspective on the long-term effects of AI on education appears to be growing, especially among K-12 students and young adults.
According to the findings, 74% of K-12 students believe that AI designed to complete tasks more quickly could make learning more difficult in the future. Among young adults, that figure rises to 83%. At the same time, excitement about AI is declining, while anger and distrust are becoming more noticeable. Thirty-one percent of respondents said that AI makes them feel angry, marking a significant increase compared to last year.
The study also shows that AI use has not disappeared, but its rate of adoption has slowed. While 51% of Generation Z members reported using AI weekly, K-12 students were found to use it more frequently than young adults. Even so, students are becoming more cautious about AI’s ability to accelerate learning. In addition, the growing share of respondents who believe that the risks of AI in the workplace outweigh its benefits suggests that young people are approaching this technology with skepticism, not only in education, but also in relation to their future careers. Experts emphasize that this trend makes it necessary to use AI in schools and workplaces in a more conscious, balanced, and pedagogically aligned manner.