A new survey from Milltown Partners, shared first with Semafor, finds that members of Generation Z are largely undecided about the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and are no more negative about its societal impact than older generations.
Key findings from the survey:
- 73% of Gen Z adults said they have not made up their minds about AI’s future.
- Half of Gen Z respondents expect AI to harm society. This matches the 50% who said the same among baby boomers and is close to the 48% figure for Generation X. Millennials were the most optimistic, with 39% expecting harm.
The report highlights a paradox in young people’s relationship with AI: many believe it undermines independent thinking and harms job prospects, yet usage is widespread.
- 46% of Gen Z respondents reported using AI every day, the second-highest daily usage rate across age groups, behind millennials.
- Young people were less concerned than older generations about the existential risks that dominate much of the AI safety debate.
- At the same time, 30% of Gen Z said they sometimes feel guilty about using AI, more than double the rate reported by respondents over 30.
Why this matters
Companies and politicians are keen to understand Gen Z’s stance on AI because the generation plays an outsized role in shaping tech trends. The survey also notes that AI and data centers played a significant role in recent U.S. midterm elections, underscoring the strategic importance of how young people perceive and use AI.
The Milltown Partners findings suggest Gen Z’s attitude toward AI is ambivalent rather than uniformly negative or positive: many daily users express concerns about the technology’s effects on thinking and employment while simultaneously feeling guilt about their own usage. These mixed sentiments are consequential for tech firms, regulators, and policymakers designing messaging and policies aimed at younger users.
