# The generation that is most comfortable with AI might surprise you

> Source: <https://www.fastcompany.com/91592394/generation-most-comfortable-with-ai-gen-x-millennials-boomers-pew-research>
> Published: 2026-08-20 10:00:00+00:00

Well, this should come as no surprise to absolutely everyone: Americans, particularly younger generations like [Gen Z](https://www.fastcompany.com/section/gen-z), are increasingly worried about [AI](https://www.fastcompany.com/section/artificial-intelligence) and its potential to take their jobs. This finding comes from a [new survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/08/18/young-adults-in-the-us-are-increasingly-wary-of-ai-concerned-it-will-take-jobs/) from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Pew Research Center, which conducted the research in June.

Concern about [artificial intelligence](https://www.fastcompany.com/section/artificial-intelligence) is up particularly among young adults under 30, whose skepticism recently [made headlines](https://apnews.com/article/ai-college-commencement-anxiety-boo-35aec9bac660eaeb05c5b8d392db2cac) when college graduates [booed speaker after speaker at commencement addresses](https://www.google.com/search?q=booed+commencement+speech&sca_esv=8731fb38ab1cc8da&sxsrf=APpeQnuclfc8ir6y8iGqUp0jWJyi7AuDyg%3A1787156832041&source=hp&ei=X9mFapr6PJ-jptQPoJCu0Q0&iflsig=ABILxe8AAAAAaoXncOEIRq0R7rYD9BkFWF-nXtKqoviB&oq=booed+comme&gs_lp=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&sclient=gws-wiz#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:2c889aa4,vid:xwWaoyIy5e8,st:0) for praising and touting AI’s benefits.

In fact, for the first time since Pew started the survey in 2021, a majority of Americans under 30 (55%) now say they’re “more concerned than excited” about AI—which is roughly the same level of skepticism expressed by Americans in their thirties, forties, late sixties, and older.

However, what *is s*urprising is that the generation that seems to be most comfortable with AI is none other than [Gen X](https://www.fastcompany.com/section/gen-x) (50- to 61-year-olds). That age group is the only one in which a majority did not say they are “more concerned than excited” about AI.

The survey found, overall, more than half of Americans (52%) are “more concerned than excited” about the increased use of AI in everyday life, up from 37% five years ago. (Only 9% are “more excited than concerned,” while 37% say they’re “equally concerned and excited.”)

Five years ago, [job loss](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/03/17/how-americans-think-about-artificial-intelligence/ps_2022-03-17_ai-he_01-02-png/) was one of the top reasons for people’s concern about AI. Today they are even more worried: A whopping 71% of adults told researchers they believe AI will lead to fewer jobs in the U.S. over the next two decades, up from 64% in 2024. Only 5% believe the technology will lead to more jobs.

Of those surveyed who are younger than 30, 73% said they believe AI will lead to fewer jobs—up from 61% two years ago. They now hold this view at the same rate as their older counterparts, ages 30 to 64.

And that’s not all: Younger adults are the most likely demographic to believe AI will be [bad for society and for them](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/06/17/how-opinions-and-use-of-ai-differ-by-age/), in part by [making connection and creativity harder](https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2025/09/17/ai-impact-on-people-society-appendix/ps_2024-9-15_ai-and-its-impact_a-08/), even though most say they continue to use chatbots and AI tools.