While enthusiasm has dwindled across all age groups, a majority of adults under 30 (55%) now identify as being more concerned than excited, a sharp rise from previous years.
The primary driver for this growing unease is the perceived impact of AI on the labor market.
Pew Research Center reports that 71% of U.S.
adults believe the technology will lead to fewer jobs over the next 20 years, up from 64% just two years ago.
This anxiety is particularly acute among younger generations; 73% of adults under 30 now anticipate a net loss of jobs due to AI, a sentiment that has brought their outlook in line with mid-career professionals who have historically been more skeptical.
Beyond employment, younger Americans are increasingly critical of how AI tools like chatbots—software designed to simulate human conversation—affect personal development and social cohesion.
The source indicates that adults under 30 are the group most likely to believe AI will be detrimental to society and their own lives, with many reporting that these tools may actually hinder rather than help their individual creativity.
Despite widespread use of the technology, only 9% of all U.S.
adults now say they are more excited than concerned about the future of AI.