According to a recent Gallup survey, Generation Z continues to use artificial intelligence (AI) at increasing rates but harbors significant concerns about its impact. The survey, conducted from February 24 to March 4 by the Walton Family Foundation, GSV Ventures, and Gallup, sampled 1,572 Americans aged 14 to 29. About half of these respondents—51%—use generative AI weekly, marking a 4% rise compared to last year.
Despite rising usage, Gen Z’s excitement about AI has diminished by 14 percentage points, now sitting at just 22%. Hopefulness for AI also fell by 9 points to 18%, while feelings of anger increased by 9 points to 31%. “Gen Zers have become increasingly skeptical and negative,” noted Zach Hrynowski, a senior education researcher at Gallup. This shift in sentiment is even more pronounced among daily users.
The survey revealed that eight out of ten Gen Z respondents fear that depending on AI for quicker task completion could complicate future learning, indicating anxiety over potential dependency. Previous studies have linked heavy reliance on tools like ChatGPT to procrastination and memory loss among students.
Concerns extend beyond cognitive skills to creativity as well. Only 31% believe AI aids in generating new ideas, down from 42% the previous year. Trust in its accuracy has dropped to 37%, compared to last year’s 43%. This aligns with research suggesting generative AI diminishes originality by boosting individual output while reducing creative diversity.
Skepticism is particularly strong in professional settings. Nearly half of employed Gen Zers—48%—now consider the risks of AI at work to outweigh its benefits, a notable increase from last year. Merely 15% view AI as beneficial for their careers, and fewer than 20% would prefer it over human assistance for tutoring or customer support. Trust in AI-assisted tasks is at 28%, compared to 69% for purely human efforts.
This concern is partly grounded in reality, as AI displaces white-collar jobs more rapidly than anticipated. Sydney Gill, a Rice University freshman, expressed to the New York Times that many career paths she’s interested in could soon be automated. A Gallup study found that 42% of bachelor’s degree students have reconsidered their major due to AI.
While nearly three-quarters of K-12 schools now have AI policies—a 23-point increase within a year—trust remains low. The prevalence of such rules hasn’t curbed suspicions of academic dishonesty, with 41% believing classmates misuse AI for schoolwork.
“The data shows that while Gen Z recognizes AI’s utility, they are increasingly worried about its long-term effects on learning and career readiness,” stated Stephanie Marken, a senior partner at Gallup. The growing skepticism underscores the need for more thoughtful integration of AI in educational and professional environments.
Initially seen as AI’s ideal adopters, Gen Z now uses these tools out of necessity, often distrusting their outputs and fearing they may compromise long-term skills. Even scientists have acknowledged that AI handles much of their thinking, a development that doesn’t reassure the generation witnessing it.