Young adults are losing faith in AI's upside

Data: Pew; Chart: Noah Bressner/Axios A majority of U.S. adults under 30 are now more concerned than excited about AI's growing use in daily life, according to a Pew Research Center report published Tuesday. Why it matters: AI excitement has dropped off across all age groups since 2021, as concerns about the technology's impact on job availability and society have grown. By the numbers: About 55% of adults under 30 say they're more concerned than excited about AI, a 24-point increase from 2021, when Pew first started asking the question. Roughly 1 in ten say they're more excited about AI embedded in daily life, while a third feel both equally. That's more in line with other age groups: 51% of adults ages 30–49 feel more concerned, as do 47% of those ages 50–64 and 59% of those 65 and older. Zoom in: Seventy-three percent of adults under 30 say they expect AI will take away jobs over the next two decades, up from 61% in 2024. That's comparable to the 71% of adults who think the same, up from 64% in 2024. The 65+ age group is the least likely to think AI will reduce jobs, with 63% saying so, a five-point increase from 2024. Catch up quick: About 27% of Americans aged 18 to 34 believe they or someone they know has lost a job due to AI, according to a new Axios-Generation Lab poll. Hiring of younger white-collar workers has slowed, with unemployment among college graduates under 29 increasing 3.1% before the COVID-19 pandemic to 3.7% since 2022. Reality check: Research indicates AI job losses happen far less often than people think, but alarming headlines and predictions of an impending job-loss bloodbath are clearly influencing the bad vibes. Some reporting indicates remote work — and employers being less inclined to train young, inexperienced workers — might instead be contributing to lower hiring among young white-collar workers. The bottom line: Adults under 30 are the most likely to say AI will be harmful to society and themselves, and largely think it'll make connection and creativity more scarce. Wall Street might be pumped about AI's potential, but Americans are warier about the technology than ever. Methodology: Pew surveyed 3,488 U.S. adults from June 22 to June 28, 2026. Go deeper: Youth poll: Thumbs down on everything

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