Overview
- The Pew Research Center survey, fielded June 22–28, 2026 and reported Aug. 18, found 55% of U.S. adults under 30 say they are more concerned than excited about AI.
- Overall concern has risen to 52% from 37% in 2021, and 71% of adults now expect AI will lead to fewer U.S. jobs over the next 20 years.
- Young adults report heavy use of AI tools even as they sour on them: about 66% of under‑30s say they use chatbots but many also say AI harms creativity and relationships.
- Evidence on actual job loss is mixed: reporting shows at least 17 companies cited AI as a factor in layoffs, while recent academic studies have found no broad, economy‑wide displacement so far.
- The shift in attitudes could change labor market behavior and public policy by slowing employers’ willingness to hire or train inexperienced workers and increasing calls for worker protections and regulation.