31% of Gen Z Say AI Makes Them Angry as Job and Learning Fears Deepen
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · Jun 1
31% of Gen Z Say AI Makes Them Angry as Job and Learning Fears Deepen
4 articles · Updated · Financial Times · Jun 1
31% of U.S. Gen Z said generative AI made them feel angry, up from 22% last year, even though roughly half use it at least weekly, according to Gallup.
Young adults interviewed across the U.S., Europe and India said AI is eroding junior-job prospects, turning hiring into an automated arms race and making coding, writing and study feel less valuable.
25 applications may be needed on one gamified hiring platform to be almost certain of one recommendation to advance, a Stanford-led study found, helping explain why some graduates report hundreds of applications without an offer.
Beyond work and school, interviewees said AI-generated text and images are blurring trust in media and politics, while some complain chatbots are draining creativity and human connection from everyday interactions.
One in five Gen Z respondents said they had never used AI—about unchanged from 2025—showing the backlash is growing alongside continued dependence and recognition of AI's practical benefits.
Gen Z feels erased by AI, yet uses it to build new careers. Are they fighting a losing battle or building the future?
As AI automates routine work, what irreplaceable human skills will define professional value in the coming decade?
With AI creating perfect forgeries and biased bots, how can society win the race to preserve trust in information?
Gen Z’s Growing Disillusionment with AI: Risks, Resistance, and the Path Forward (2026 Data)
Overview
By mid-2026, Gen Z’s growing disillusionment with artificial intelligence is clear, as Gallup reports a sharp rise in negative attitudes. Only 18 percent of Gen Z feel hopeful about AI, while nearly half believe its risks outweigh the benefits. This skepticism is visible in public reactions, such as boos at university events and negative portrayals in pop culture. Gen Z’s concerns are driven by fears over job security, cognitive impacts, and data privacy. Despite these worries, many still recognize the need to learn AI skills for future careers, showing a complex mix of resistance and pragmatic acceptance.