What happened
A Gallup, Walton Family Foundation, and GSV Ventures survey of over 1,500 US Gen Z individuals (14-29) in February and March 2026 reveals declining AI sentiment despite consistent usage. Over half regularly use generative AI, yet hopefulness dropped from 27% in 2025 to 18% in 2026. Excitement decreased, and 31% reported anger. Nearly half of working Gen Z now believe AI's risks outweigh benefits, an 11-point jump, with only 15% seeing a net benefit.
Why it matters
Declining positive sentiment among Gen Z signals future adoption challenges for AI developers and enterprise implementers. This demographic, entering the workforce, increasingly perceives AI as a risk rather than a benefit, with hopefulness dropping by nine percentage points. Nearly half of working Gen Z now believe AI's risks outweigh its benefits. Future AI integration in education and early career workplaces faces resistance. AI product teams and procurement leaders must address specific concerns regarding creativity, critical thinking, and job displacement to secure long-term market acceptance.
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