The AI backlash was always going to come - what nobody predicted was that it would come first from the generation born into the technology - Silicon Canals

"A 2026 Gallup survey of over 1,500 Gen Zers found that excitement about AI dropped 14 percentage points in a single year - from 36% to 22%. The share reporting outright anger toward AI rose from 22% to 31%."

"Nearly half - 48% - of Gen Z workers now say the risks of using AI for work outweigh the benefits, up from 37% in 2025. Fewer than 3 in 10 trust AI-assisted work."

"More Gen Zers now believe AI will hurt rather than help their ability to think carefully about information (42% harmful vs. 25% helpful) and come up with new ideas on their own (38% harmful vs. 31% helpful)."

"The skepticism isn't theoretical - it's rooted in things they can see happening to their own lives. They're watching their career ladder disappear."

Gen Z, initially expected to embrace AI, is showing growing skepticism. A Gallup survey revealed a 14-point drop in excitement about AI, with anger towards it rising. Despite continued usage, nearly half of Gen Z workers believe the risks of AI outweigh the benefits. Trust in AI-assisted work is low, and many feel AI harms their ability to think critically and generate ideas. Fewer than 20% prefer AI over humans for services like tutoring or financial advice, reflecting a generation's lived experience with technology.

Read at Silicon Canals