Young US adults shift from excitement to concern over AI use

Gen Z’s distrust extends to tech leaders: 69% don’t trust Sam Altman, 70% Elon Musk, and 71% Mark Zuckerberg, per a CNBC/Generation Labs poll. Half of Gen Z use generative AI weekly or daily, but excitement fell to 22% while anger rose to 31%. Concerns about AI hindering learning and workplace benefits grew, with 80% worried about its impact on their careers. Millennials, though similarly engaged with chatbots, remain less pessimistic. Experts like Nikolas Guggenberger argue this hostility reflects a ‘velocity gap’—AI’s rapid evolution outpacing public understanding, unlike slower tech shifts like smartphones.

Policy preferences reflect these concerns: 60% support slowing data center construction, 40% back government regulation, and 45% expect AI to harm their careers. With 49 million Gen Z voters eligible in the 2026 midterms, their influence is rising, though political representation remains skewed toward older generations. Advocates like Audra Watson emphasize the need for youth-led policy solutions, citing Gen Z’s deep familiarity with AI’s risks and ethical dilemmas.