Gen Z’s love-hate relationship with AI
31% of Gen Z now feel angry about AI, but over half still use it weekly for work and school.
A new Gallup report, based on a survey of nearly 1,600 Americans aged 14 to 29, reveals a significant cooling in Gen Z's sentiment toward artificial intelligence. Compared to last year, excitement about AI plummeted from 36% to just 22%, while feelings of hope fell from 27% to 18%. Conversely, anger toward the technology surged by 40%, rising from 22% to 31% of respondents. Anxiety remains high and steady at around 40%. The data suggests the initial hype is wearing off as AI becomes more embedded in daily academic and professional life, leading to a more critical and disillusioned assessment.
Despite growing resentment, pragmatic usage continues. Just over half (51%) of Gen Z-ers report using AI at least weekly, a modest increase from 47% last year. A majority (56%) acknowledge that tools like ChatGPT or Claude help them complete work faster, yet nearly half (49%) now believe the risks of workplace AI outweigh the benefits—an 11-point jump. A striking 80% worry that using AI for speed will impair future learning. According to Gallup's Stephanie Marken, this reflects a generation 'reassessing AI's role,' recognizing its utility but growing deeply concerned about its long-term impact on skill development and career readiness in a turbulent job market.
The findings arrive as AI transitions from novelty to mainstream utility, forcing a digital-native generation to grapple with its double-edged sword. They must navigate educational institutions struggling to adapt while entering a workforce marked by layoffs and an expectation to use AI tools. This love-hate relationship is defined by a reluctant dependency: Gen Z feels compelled to use AI to stay competitive, even as trust in the technology and the companies building it continues to erode.
- AI anger among Gen Z surged 40% year-over-year, from 22% to 31%, while excitement dropped sharply from 36% to 22%.
- Over half (51%) use AI weekly, and 56% say it speeds up work, yet 49% believe workplace risks now outweigh benefits.
- 80% of Gen Z-ers fear that using AI for efficiency will make learning harder in the future, highlighting a core conflict.
Why It Matters
This reluctant adoption by the future workforce signals a shift from hype to pragmatic, critical usage that will shape corporate AI policy and educational approaches.