Gen X Leads Workplace AI Support as Gen Z Pushes Back

As employers accelerate the use of generative AI, the workplace debate has expanded beyond productivity to job security, management practices and employee trust. Glassdoor analyzed reviews from U.S.-based full- and part-time employees, finding that younger digital natives are not necessarily the technology’s strongest supporters. The results suggest that how companies deploy AI — including mandates, surveillance and expectations for efficiency gains — can shape worker sentiment as much as exposure to automation.

Glassdoor senior economist Chris Martin published the research on Aug. 27, 2026. Mentions of AI in employer reviews surged 240% between May 2025 and May 2026, but only 43% of AI-related comments were positive in 2026, down from 81% in 2019, while 53% were negative. Gen X recorded the highest positive share at 47%, compared with 40% for millennials and 33% for Gen Z. The divide was sharpest among Gen Z: 42% of men’s comments were positive, versus 21% for women.