Gen Z's AI sentiment sours as anger rises and excitement drops, despite steady usage at 51%
8 Sources
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Half of Gen Z Uses AI, but Their Feelings Are Souring, Study Shows
A new study from Gallup found that young adults have grown less hopeful and more angry about artificial intelligence. Think young people are charging eagerly into an A.I.-mediated future? Think again. More than half of Gen Z-ers living in the United States use generative artificial intelligence
[2]
Gen Z's Use of AI Is Plateauing and It's Feeling Less Hopeful About the Tech
Young people have grown increasingly skeptical of artificial intelligence, even those who use it daily, according to a new Gallup poll of more than 1,500 people aged 14 to 29. There is no decline in AI use among Gen Zers, but there is also no increase since the same poll was conducted in 2025. The
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Gen Z's fading AI hype
By the numbers: The share of Gen Z respondents who agree that AI makes them excited fell from 36% last year to 22% in 2026, per the findings from the Walton Family Foundation, GSV Ventures and Gallup. * Additionally, a smaller share feel hopeful (18%) this year than last (27%) -- and a larger
[4]
Gen Z uses AI all the time, so why are they starting to hate it?
Gen Z was supposed to be AI's biggest fan. The numbers tell a very different story. More than half of Gen Zers in the US use generative AI regularly. So you'd think they'd be its biggest cheerleaders. As it turns out, not so much. According to a New York Times report, a new survey by Gallup, the
[5]
Gen Z's AI Adoption Steady, but Skepticism Climbs
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- While a steady 51% of Gen Zers in the U.S. report using generative artificial intelligence at least weekly, negative emotions toward it have intensified over the past year. Anger about the technology has risen, while excitement and hopefulness have dropped. Even daily AI users,
[6]
Gen Z Thinks AI Is Rotting Their Brains, But Can't Stop Using It: Survey - Decrypt
Fear of cognitive decline and dependency has grown among youngsters. Gen Z increasingly hates AI, but they also can't stop using it, according to a new Gallup survey released this week. The survey, conducted February 24 through March 4 by the Walton Family Foundation, GSV Ventures, and Gallup,
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Think Gen Z Loves AI? A New Study Shows Anger Spiking While Excitement Tanks
Sasha Kostakis, a sophomore at the University of Maryland, College Park, recalls toiling over math homework as a child with her tears of frustration blurring the numbers on the page. But in the new age of artificial intelligence, she thinks "kids these days don't go through that frustration.".
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Young adults are growing more skeptical and angry about AI
Young adults are growing more skeptical and angry about artificial intelligence. The share of Gen Z respondents who say they feel angry about AI rose from 22% last year to 31% this year, with the oldest members of the cohort expressing the most anger. The sentiment appears tied to fears that AI is
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A Gallup survey reveals Gen Z's growing disillusionment with AI despite regular usage. Excitement fell 14 points while anger increased 9 points since 2025. Young workers express concern about creativity, critical thinking, and job prospects as nearly half believe the risks outweigh the benefits in the workplace.
Gen Z's Use of AI Remains Steady While Sentiment Deteriorates
Gen Z continues to engage with artificial intelligence at consistent rates, but their emotional relationship with the technology has shifted dramatically. According to a Gallup survey conducted by the Walton Family Foundation, GSV Ventures, and Gallup between February 24 and March 4, 2026, 51% of Gen Z respondents aged 14 to 29 report using generative AI at least weekly—a figure unchanged from 2025
1
. The survey of more than 1,500 people reveals that while AI adoption has plateaued, negative emotions have intensified significantly5
. Among daily users, 22% engage with AI tools regularly, while 29% use them weekly3
. This stability masks a deeper transformation in how young people perceive the technology they've woven into their daily routines.
Source: Gallup
Decline in Hopeful Feelings About AI Signals Growing Disillusionment
The emotional trajectory tells a stark story. Excitement for AI among Gen Z dropped 14 percentage points since 2025, falling from 36% to just 22%
3
. Hopefulness declined nine points to 18%, down from 27% the previous year1
. Meanwhile, anger increased nine points to 31%, and anxiety remained steady at 42%5
. Zach Hrynowski, a senior education researcher for Gallup who worked on the survey, expressed surprise at how noticeably attitudes had shifted1
. Even daily AI users, who generally hold more favorable views, saw excitement drop 18 points and hopefulness fall 11 points compared to last year4
. Curiosity remains the most common emotion at 49%, but it's closely followed by anxiety and anger rather than optimism2
.
Source: Axios
Skepticism Towards AI Intensifies Among Young Workers
The skepticism towards AI runs particularly deep among employed Gen Z members navigating an uncertain job market. Close to half of working young adults—48%—now say the risks of AI in the workforce outweigh the potential benefits, representing an 11-point jump from the previous year
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. Only 15% view AI as a net benefit in the workplace, while 37% see risks and benefits as roughly equal5
. This rising anger may be driven by AI dimming prospects for entry-level workers, Hrynowski suggests, noting that the oldest members of Gen Z express the most anger3
. Fed Chair Jerome Powell admitted last year that AI is probably a factor in the dismal young graduate employment rates in the U.S., while the Irish government reported a link between slowing employment for young workers and AI adoption earlier this year2
.
Source: Gizmodo
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Impact on Creativity and Critical Thinking Raises Concerns
Gen Z harbors significant doubts about AI's impact on creativity and critical thinking skills. Thirty-eight percent believe AI will do more harm than good for creativity, while 42% say the same for critical thinking
2
. More broadly, 80% of Gen Z respondents say it's very or somewhat likely that using AI tools will make it more difficult for them to learn in the future5
. Trust in AI-assisted work remains low, with 69% saying they trust work done without AI more, compared to 28% who trust AI-assisted work and just 3% who trust completely AI-generated work2
. Confidence in AI's ability to help complete work faster has also declined 10 points, though 56% still believe it can speed up work2
.Technology Adoption Continues Despite Growing Credibility Challenges
The plateaued usage "speaks to the reticent acceptance that this technology is here to stay," Hrynowski explains
3
. Despite apprehension, 52% of Gen Z K-12 students agree they'll need to know how to use AI for college or classes after high school, up from 47% last year3
. More than half of K-12 students—56%—say they'll have the AI skills necessary for future careers after graduating high school, compared to 44% last year3
. The findings signal what the report calls "a growing credibility challenge that access alone will not solve"2
. As digital natives, Gen Z may be more acutely aware of AI's impact compared to mid-career professionals who don't feel as threatened by the technology3
. This generation's adoption patterns could determine the trajectory of broader societal technology adoption, making their skepticism a signal that tech companies will need to address beyond simply highlighting productivity gains2
.References
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