A recent Pew Research Center survey indicates a shift in sentiment among young adults regarding artificial intelligence. For the first time since 2021, a majority of those under 30 report being more concerned than excited about AI, signaling potential challenges for companies betting on an AI-native generation.
The growing concern among young adults about AI, particularly regarding job displacement, challenges the assumption that this demographic will readily embrace and drive AI adoption, potentially impacting future workforce dynamics and the pace of AI integration across industries.
A significant portion of young adults in the U.S. are expressing growing apprehension about the future of artificial intelligence, according to recent findings from the Pew Research Center. The survey reveals that for the first time since the center began asking the question in 2021, a majority of adults under 30 are more concerned than excited about AI's development and integration.
This sentiment shift among the demographic often considered 'AI-native' could complicate the strategies of leading companies that have been banking on younger employees' familiarity with AI tools. Executives from companies like Figma and Reddit have previously highlighted the advantages of hiring recent graduates who have grown up alongside AI, believing they possess a natural understanding of these technologies.
Furthermore, broader public concern regarding AI's impact on employment appears to be intensifying. The survey indicates that 71% of Americans now believe AI will result in fewer jobs, an increase from 64% two years prior. While some studies, including one from Stanford researchers, have found little evidence of widespread AI-driven job displacement, and figures like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have downplayed such fears, the perception of job loss persists.
Adding to this concern, Business Insider has identified 17 companies, including major tech firms like Oracle, Cisco, IBM, and Uber, that have explicitly cited AI as a contributing factor in their recent layoff decisions. The Pew Research Center's data is derived from its American Trends Panel, a representative sample of U.S. adults surveyed between June 22 and June 28.