Gen Z's use of AI has leveled off, but their feelings about it have not, with excitement falling 14 points in a year to 22 percent, and anger climbing 9 points to 31 percent. Gen Z AI skepticism is on the rise, signaling a crucial debate about the technology's true benefits and drawbacks.
As AI becomes increasingly integrated into daily life, a significant portion of the younger generation is pushing back, citing concerns over job displacement, cognitive abilities, and the overall value of AI in their lives. Neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath told the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee that attention, memory, literacy, numeracy, reasoning, and general IQ have stalled or reversed among young people over the past two decades.
Eight in ten Gen Z users believe AI will make learning harder, and 42 percent think it will hurt their ability to think carefully. The University of Arizona, Middle Tennessee State University, and the University of Central Florida have all seen commencement speakers booed for discussing AI's benefits. Apollo's chief economist Torsten Slok found that there are no signs of profit margins rising outside the tech sector due to AI.
47 percent of college students have seriously considered changing their major due to AI's impact on the job market, with 16 percent already having done so. As the younger generation begins to push back against AI, it's clear that the technology's benefits are not as universally accepted as once thought. The question now is how to address the challenges posed by AI, with some advocating for a universal basic income and others pushing for a hard-money monetary system.