Generation Z: Disillusionment with AI, but Usage Persists

Generation Z Confronts AI: Between Fascination and Frustration

A recent Gallup report highlights the complex relationship Generation Z has with artificial intelligence. While this generation continues to rely on this technology, it also expresses a growing disillusionment.

According to the study, which surveyed nearly 1,600 young Americans aged 14 to 29, enthusiasm for AI is declining even as its integration into schools and the professional world accelerates. The results show that only 18% of respondents feel optimistic about the future of AI, a decrease from the previous year. Additionally, 22% of young people express excitement about AI, down from 36% the year before.

Rising Anger Towards AI

Anger towards AI has increased, rising from 22% to 31% among the surveyed youth. This surge in frustration is accompanied by stable anxiety, which remains around 40%. These mixed feelings reflect a heightened awareness of the risks associated with the use of AI, particularly in the workplace.

Nearly half of young workers in Generation Z now believe that the risks of AI at work outweigh its benefits, a notable increase of 11 points compared to the previous year. However, 56% acknowledge that AI can help them complete tasks more quickly, even though this may make learning more difficult in the long run. In fact, eight out of ten young people assert that using AI to work faster will make learning more challenging in the future.

Continued Use Despite Concerns

Despite these concerns, Generation Z's use of AI continues to grow, albeit slowly. More than half of young people report using AI at least once a week, a slight increase from the previous year. However, Gallup notes that this growth has slowed to a very gradual pace.

Stephanie Marken, a senior partner at Gallup, emphasizes that this generation is not rejecting AI but is reevaluating its role in their daily lives. She notes that young people recognize the usefulness of AI while worrying about its impact on learning and career preparation. About half of young people believe they will need AI for higher education or their future careers.

A Context of Transition and Distrust

These findings come as AI becomes a more mature technology, with clear implications for a generation facing a changing job market marked by mass layoffs and educational systems in the midst of adaptation. The growing distrust towards companies developing AI adds an additional layer of complexity to this already ambivalent relationship.