What was once seen as the most AI-native generation is now expressing growing frustration with how the technology is being used across work and education.
A new survey from Gallup finds that Gen Z attitudes toward AI are becoming more negative even as usage remains widespread.
Adoption Holds, But Sentiment Slips
Weekly AI use among Gen Z remains at 51%, but growth has slowed to just four percentage points over the past year. At the same time, emotional responses have become more negative.
About 31% of Gen Z now report feeling anger toward AI, up from 22% last year. Feelings of excitement and hopefulness have declined, while more than 40% continue to report anxiety around the technology.
Credit: Gallup
Rising Concern About Work
Nearly half of Gen Z workers (48%) now believe the risks of AI in the workplace outweigh the benefits, an 11-point increase over the prior year. While 56% say AI helps them complete tasks faster, concerns about long-term effects on learning are growing.
Eight in 10 say relying on AI for speed could make it harder to build skills over time. At the same time, confidence in AI’s productivity benefits has declined compared with last year.
Credit: Gallup
Schools Tighten Rules as Trust Erodes
Use of AI in schools is becoming more regulated. Roughly 74% of K-12 students report their schools now have AI policies in place, up 23 points from last year.
At the same time, 41% of students believe most classmates are using AI in ways that are not allowed, pointing to growing concern around academic honesty.
Human Preference Still Dominates
Despite regular use of AI tools, Gen Z continues to favor human-led services. Fewer than 20% would choose AI for tutoring, financial advice, or customer service.
The data points to a generation that is using AI heavily, but becoming more cautious about where it belongs in work, school, and everyday decision-making.
