Young Americans’ AI Anxiety Keeps Growing. Unlike Older Adults, Their Concern Hasn’t Leveled Off.

Young Americans are emerging as some of the country's most skeptical voices on artificial intelligence even as they remain among the age demographic most likely to use the technology.

For the first time, a majority of U.S. adults under 30 say they are more concerned than excited about the increasing use of AI in daily life, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.

The shift stands out because anxiety among younger adults is continuing to rise even as concern among older Americans has largely leveled off. Pew found that 55% of adults under 30 are now more concerned than excited about AI. Only about one in 10 are more excited than concerned, while roughly one-third say they feel both emotions equally.

The findings are part of a broader deterioration in Americans' attitudes toward AI. Overall, 52% of U.S. adults say they are more concerned than excited about its growing role in everyday life, compared with 37% in 2021. Just 9% are more excited than concerned, while 37% are equally concerned and excited.

The survey of U.S. adults was conducted between June 22 and June 28, 2026. Concern has increased across generations since Pew first asked the question in 2021, but the trajectory among younger adults is different. For Americans 30 and older, much of the increase in concern occurred during the first two years. Among adults under 30, however, skepticism has continued to climb.

Jobs are at the center of much of the anxiety. Seventy-one percent of Americans now believe AI will result in fewer jobs in the United States over the next 20 years, up from 64% in 2024. Only 5% believe the technology will ultimately create more jobs, while 10% expect it to make little difference.

Among adults under 30, the change has been even sharper. Seventy-three percent now expect AI to lead to fewer jobs, compared with 61% just two years ago. That puts the youngest adults roughly in line with Americans ages 30 to 64. Even among people 65 and older, who are somewhat less likely to predict AI-driven job losses, a majority expects the technology to reduce employment.

The fears come as industry leaders remain sharply divided over what generative AI will ultimately mean for workers. Some have, like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, warned that automation could eliminate significant numbers of white-collar and entry-level positions, while others argue that AI will change jobs, increase productivity and create new types of employment rather than produce mass unemployment.

But Pew's findings suggest young Americans' doubts extend well beyond their paychecks. Previous research by the organization found that adults under 30 are the age group most likely to believe AI will be bad for society and for them personally. They are also particularly concerned about what the technology could mean for human creativity and relationships.

That skepticism creates a striking contradiction. Most young adults say they use AI chatbots, yet they are just as likely to believe those tools hurt their creativity as help it. Younger Americans also tend to expect AI to make genuine human connection and creativity more difficult to find.