Adoption of AI slows among Generation Z as resentment grows, study finds

The relationship between people born between 1997 and 2012, also known as Zoomers or Generation Z (or simply Gen Z), with artificial intelligence is shifting from enthusiasm to scepticism, despite the widely held belief by older demographics that the opposite would be true.

This observation was established based on the findings of a new Gallup survey conducted by the US-based Walton Family Foundation and GSV Ventures. Once seen as early adopters of AI, young people are increasingly concerned about its long-term implications, particularly in the workplace and education.

While a majority of Gen Zers (51%) continue to use AI weekly, adoption growth has slowed to just four percentage points over the past year. Positive sentiment is declining sharply: excitement has dropped 14 points, hopefulness nine points, and 31% of Gen Z now report feeling outright anger toward AI, up from 22% last year. Anxiety remains significant, with slightly more than 40% expressing unease about the technology’s trajectory.

Fears of work loss

Nearly half of Gen Z workers (48%) now believe the risks of AI in the workforce outweigh its benefits, an increase of 11 points from the previous year. Although 56% acknowledge that AI can help them complete work faster, many see a cost: 80% believe that relying on AI will make learning more difficult in the future.

Confidence in AI as a productivity tool is also waning, with the proportion who say it helps them work faster declining by 10 points since 2025.

AI in schools

Despite these concerns, students remain pragmatic about AI’s role in education and careers. Over half of K-12 students (52%) believe they will need to know how to use AI for higher education, and 48% expect to use it in their future careers.

Stephanie Marken, senior partner at Gallup, explains, “Gen Z isn’t rejecting AI outright, but they are reassessing its role in their lives. What we’re seeing in the data is a generation that recognizes AI’s utility but is increasingly concerned about its long-term impact on learning, trust and career readiness.”

She adds, “Their growing skepticism signals a need for more thoughtful integration of these tools in both school settings and the workplace.”

Implementation of AI in schools has increased notably. According to students, nearly 74% of schools now have policies regarding AI and academic work, a 23-point rise from last year.

Yet as access and rules expand, students are growing more wary of AI in the classroom and perceive higher risks of academic dishonesty. About 41% of students believe that most or all of their classmates use AI for schoolwork even when it is not allowed.

Romy Drucker, director of the Education Program at the Walton Family Foundation, emphasized the significance of these trends: “Gen Z is sending us a strong signal and we must treat it as a call to act, not a perception to explain away.”

By Nazrin Sadigova