The survey, conducted February 24 through March 4 by the Walton Family Foundation, GSV Ventures, and Gallup, polled 1,572 Americans aged 14 to 29. About 51% still use generative AI at least weekly—up 4% from last year.
AI usage among GenZ is rising, but enthusiasm is falling.
Excitement about AI dropped 14 percentage points to just 22%. Hopefulness fell 9 points to 18%. Anger climbed 9 points to 31%. These are not marginal shifts.
Source: Gallup Eight in 10 Gen Zers believe that relying on AI to get work done faster will likely make learning more difficult in the future, showing fears of becoming dependent on a tool that makes them worse at the things it helps them do.
Workplace skepticism is even sharper. Nearly half of employed Gen Zers—48%—now say the risks of AI outweigh its benefits at work, an 11-point jump from last year. Only 15% see it as a net positive for their careers. Fewer than 20% would choose AI over a human for services like tutoring, financial advice, or customer support. Trust in AI-assisted work sits at 28%, compared to 69% for exclusively human output.
"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," said Stephanie Marken, senior partner at Gallup. "Their growing skepticism signals a need for more thoughtful integration of these tools in both school settings and the workplace."
