US Sentiment on AI Sours as Young Adults Fear Job Losses

Artificial intelligence is moving deeper into business decisions, hiring, healthcare and everyday products, sharpening debate over productivity gains, job displacement and corporate accountability. Research by Bentley University and Gallup shows that greater familiarity does not eliminate public unease: even knowledgeable Americans remain more likely to see AI as harmful than beneficial, while transparency has emerged as a central requirement for companies seeking wider acceptance.

Gallup surveyed 5,835 U.S. adults from April 29 to May 6, 2024. Sixty-four percent said they were at least somewhat knowledgeable about AI, yet among those describing themselves as extremely knowledgeable, 31% said the technology does more harm than good, versus 22% who saw greater benefits. Three-quarters expected AI to reduce U.S. employment over the next decade, while 77% had little or no trust in businesses to use it responsibly.

Generative AI is reshaping entry-level hiring and knowledge work, but young people in the United States and China are reading the disruption differently. Many Americans see automation as a threat to jobs, career stability and the value of a degree, while their Chinese peers are more likely to treat AI as a tool to master. The divide matters because adoption depends not only on technical capability, but also on trust and confidence in the economy.

A South China Morning Post commentary published June 27, 2026 cited a Chinese survey of more than 7,000 people: over 96% knew about AI, more than 54% had used it and above 40% applied it at work, school or in daily life. It also cited Edelman figures showing 87% trust in China versus 32% in the U.S. The Harvard Youth Poll found 59% of Americans aged 18 to 29 believed AI threatened their job prospects.

Generative AI is rapidly becoming part of how Americans work, study and manage daily life, with ChatGPT serving as a key gauge of its adoption. Pew Research Center has continued to track technology use and public sentiment. Its findings show that while exposure to AI is increasing, concerns persist about jobs, the reliability of information and broader societal risks.

Pew Research Center’s latest poll found that 44% of US adults have used ChatGPT, but only 16% believe AI has had a positive impact on society. More than 60% of respondents are concerned that AI is developing too quickly, suggesting that increased use has not translated into greater trust. The event data did not specify the poll’s publication date, sample size or any related monetary amounts.

Generative AI rapidly spread through schools and workplaces after ChatGPT gained widespread adoption. US Gen Zers are frequent users, but they also face the prospect that automation could displace entry-level jobs. Their shifting attitudes have implications for corporate talent development, school AI policies and young people’s ability to sustain creativity and critical-thinking skills.

Gallup, the Walton Family Foundation and GSV Ventures released the survey on April 9, 2026. It polled 1,572 Americans aged 14 to 29 from February 24 to March 4. While 51% use generative AI at least weekly, the share who feel hopeful about it fell to 18% from 27%. Among employed respondents, 48% said the risks outweigh the benefits, while 42% said AI would impair the ability to think carefully.

Generative AI is expanding beyond writing and search tools into workplace functions such as scheduling, task allocation and performance management. Employees’ willingness to report directly to an AI system offers a test of trust in automated decision-making, while also raising broader questions about accountability, workforce planning and regulation as companies deploy the technology more deeply across daily operations.

A Quinnipiac University national poll released on March 30, 2026, found that 15% of Americans would accept an AI program as their direct supervisor, assigning tasks and setting schedules, while 80% would not. The survey of 1,397 adults, conducted from March 19 to March 23, also showed 70% expected advances in AI to reduce job opportunities, compared with just 7% who anticipated an increase.

Generative AI has rapidly spread into workplaces, education and daily life since ChatGPT gained widespread adoption. Its rise has also deepened concerns about automation-driven job losses, mental health risks and data governance. The nationwide NBC poll therefore reflects more than public acceptance of the technology: it shows AI regulation has become a major issue affecting employment, public health and energy policy.

NBC’s latest poll found that 46% of U.S. respondents viewed AI negatively, giving it an even worse rating than Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Despite ChatGPT’s continued growth in usage, respondents remained concerned that AI could replace jobs, harm mental health and drive up energy consumption. Most also said the U.S. government’s current regulatory response was inadequate.