A new Gallup report paints a striking picture: the generation that grew up online is souring on AI, even as they keep using it. The Verge AI reports on the survey of nearly 1,600 Americans ages 14 to 29, and the numbers tell a clear story of rising skepticism paired with reluctant adoption.
The shift from last year is significant. Excitement about AI among Gen Z dropped from 36% to just 22%. Hope fell from 27% to 18%. Meanwhile, anger jumped from 22% to 31%. Anxiety holds steady at around 40%, which means roughly four in 10 young Americans feel uneasy about the technology shaping their education and careers.
What stands out here is the cognitive dissonance. A majority of Gen Z workers (56%) admit AI helps them complete tasks faster. But almost half now believe the workplace risks outweigh the benefits, an 11-point swing from last year. And here’s the kicker: eight in 10 say that using AI to speed through work will actually make learning harder down the road.
They know it’s useful. They also think it’s undermining something important.
📊 The numbers at a glance:
- 22% excited about AI (down from 36%)
- 18% hopeful (down from 27%)
- 31% angry (up from 22%)
- ~40% anxious (unchanged)
- 51% use AI at least weekly (up just 4 points)
- ~50% believe they’ll need AI for education or careers
“Gen Z isn’t rejecting AI outright, but they are reassessing its role in their lives,” said Stephanie Marken, senior partner at Gallup. “What we’re seeing in the data is a generation that recognizes AI’s utility but is increasingly concerned about its long-term impact on learning, trust, and career readiness.”
This matters for anyone building or deploying AI products. The “growth has slowed to a crawl” line from Gallup should concern companies banking on viral adoption among younger users. Weekly AI usage inched up just four points year-over-year. That’s not the hockey stick curve Silicon Valley pitches to investors.
🔍 Why this is happening now
The timing isn’t random. Gen Z is entering a job market defined by mass layoffs and constant headlines about AI replacing workers. Schools and universities are still scrambling to figure out policies around AI use. The novelty has worn off, and what’s left is a practical calculation: “I need this tool, but I don’t trust what it’s doing to my skills.”
This mirrors a pattern we’ve seen with social media. Young people recognized the downsides early but kept using the platforms because opting out felt like a competitive disadvantage. AI is following the same trajectory, just faster.
💡 What this means for the industry
For AI companies, the message is clear: utility alone won’t sustain engagement. Gen Z wants guardrails, transparency, and tools that enhance learning rather than replace it. Products that help users build skills while using AI will have a real advantage over those that simply automate tasks away.
For employers and educators, the gap between “this helps me work faster” and “this makes me worse at my job long-term” is a problem worth solving now, not later.
The full survey details and analysis are available through the original reporting at The Verge AI.