{"version":1,"type":"story","url":"https://digestai.news/story/young-us-adults-shift-from-excitement-to-concern-over-ai-use","json":"https://digestai.news/story/young-us-adults-shift-from-excitement-to-concern-over-ai-use.json","markdown":"https://digestai.news/story/young-us-adults-shift-from-excitement-to-concern-over-ai-use.md","slug":"young-us-adults-shift-from-excitement-to-concern-over-ai-use","headline":"Young US adults shift from excitement to concern over AI use","summary":"A Pew Research Center survey found that in 2026, 55% of American adults under 30 are more concerned than excited about AI, up from 31% in 2021. Meanwhile, those more excited than concerned dropped from 25% to 11%. Despite usage—66% have used chatbots, 31% daily—their sentiment worsens with prolonged exposure. Amita Bhasin, CEO of Sotira, attributes this shift to fears of deepfakes, job displacement, and lack of transparency in AI’s development.\n\nGen 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.\n\nPolicy 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.","keyPoints":["55% of US adults under 30 now more concerned than excited about AI, up from 31% in 2021","66% have used chatbots, 31% daily, but prolonged use correlates with growing distrust and anger","69% distrust Sam Altman, 70% Elon Musk, and 71% Mark Zuckerberg, per CNBC/Generation Labs poll"],"whyItMatters":"Gen Z’s shifting sentiment could reshape AI policy, labor debates, and tech accountability as this generation gains political influence, demanding regulation and ethical safeguards.","category":{"slug":"society","name":"Society & Work","url":"https://digestai.news/category/society"},"entities":{"companies":["Sotira","OpenAI","Meta","Facebook","Instagram"],"models":[],"people":["Amita Bhasin","Nikolas Guggenberger","Ryan Vet","Lindsey Cormack","Audra Watson"]},"firstPublishedAt":"2026-09-30T02:01:00Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-30T02:01:00Z","sourceCount":1,"hasPrimarySource":false,"sources":[{"outlet":"newsweek.com","title":"The More Young People Use AI, the Less They Like It","url":"https://newsweek.com/ai-politics/the-kids-are-not-all-right-about-ai-12502163","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T02:01:00Z","type":"press","primary":false,"lead":true}],"sourceNotes":null,"discussions":[],"thread":null,"cite":{"text":"Digest AI, \"Young US adults shift from excitement to concern over AI use\", 30 September 2026, https://digestai.news/story/young-us-adults-shift-from-excitement-to-concern-over-ai-use","publisher":"Digest AI","title":"Young US adults shift from excitement to concern over AI use","datePublished":"2026-09-30T02:01:00Z","url":"https://digestai.news/story/young-us-adults-shift-from-excitement-to-concern-over-ai-use"},"generatedBy":"Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record.","license":"Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse"}