A Pew Research Center’s survey released Tuesday shows that a majority of U.S. adults under 30 are now more concerned than excited about the expanding presence of artificial intelligence (AI) in everyday life.
Key findings
- Fifty-five percent of adults under 30 say they are more concerned than excited about AI. That represents a 24 percentage-point increase from 2021, when Pew first asked the question.
- About one in ten young adults report being more excited about AI embedded in daily life, while roughly one-third say they feel both excitement and concern equally.
- Concern has increased across age groups: 51% of adults ages 30–49, 47% of those 50–64, and 59% of adults 65 and older say they are more concerned than excited.
Expectations about jobs and personal experience
- Seventy-three percent of adults under 30 expect AI will reduce the number of jobs over the next two decades, up from 61% in 2024.
- Overall, 71% of U.S. adults think AI will reduce jobs, an increase from 64% in 2024.
- The 65+ age group is least likely to expect job losses from AI, though that share rose to 63% (a five-point increase from 2024).
- A separate poll by Axios and Generation Lab found that about 27% of Americans aged 18 to 34 believe they or someone they know has lost a job because of AI.
Context and contributing factors
Pew’s results and related reporting point out that academic research suggests AI-driven job loss is less common than public perception implies, yet alarming headlines and dire predictions shape public sentiment. Other reporting indicates that remote work trends and employers’ reduced willingness to train young, inexperienced workers may also be contributing to slower hiring among young white-collar employees.
For example, unemployment among college graduates under 29 rose from 3.1% before the COVID-19 pandemic to 3.7% since 2022, indicating a deterioration in young college-educated workers’ employment prospects.
Bottom line
Adults under 30 are the most likely age group to say AI will harm society and themselves, and many worry that it will diminish opportunities for connection and creativity. While investors and some industries emphasize AI’s potential, public opinion in the United States has grown more wary of the technology.
Methodology
Pew Research Center surveyed 3,488 U.S. adults from June 22 to June 28, 2026.
