Young adults in the U.S. are increasingly wary of AI, concerned it will take jobs

A Pew Research Center survey conducted June 22-28, 2026, found that 52% of Americans are more concerned than excited about AI, up from 37% in 2021, and for the first time a majority of adults under 30 (55%) share that concern. The survey also found that 71% of adults believe AI will lead to fewer jobs in the U.S. over the next two decades, up from 64% in 2024, with 73% of adults under 30 holding that view.

Americans have become increasingly worried about artificial intelligence over the years, and young adults’ concern has continued to climb. Worry over job loss, too, is on the rise. Americans have grown more concerned about AI over time Americans have grown more concerned about AI over time | More concerned than excited | Equally concerned and excited | More excited than concerned | | |---|---|---|---| | 2021 | 37 | 45 | 18 | | 2022 | 38 | 46 | 15 | | 2023 | 52 | 36 | 10 | | 2024 | 51 | 38 | 11 | | 2025 | 50 | 38 | 10 | | 2026 | 52 | 37 | 9 | Today, 52% of Americans say they are more concerned than excited about the increased use of AI in daily life – up from 37% in 2021. Another 9% are more excited than concerned and 37% say they’re equally excited and concerned, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted June 22-28, 2026. Concern about AI is up among younger and older Americans alike since we first asked this question in 2021. But while the rise was mainly in the first two years for Americans ages 30 and older, concern continues to climb for adults under 30 – whose skepticism of AI has made headlines https://apnews.com/article/ai-college-commencement-anxiety-boo-35aec9bac660eaeb05c5b8d392db2cac in recent months. | Year | Ages 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | More concerned than excited | 2026 | 55 | 51 | 47 | 59 | | 2025 | 47 | 48 | 52 | 56 | | | 2024 | 39 | 47 | 56 | 59 | | | 2023 | 42 | 48 | 59 | 61 | | | 2022 | 29 | 34 | 43 | 45 | | | 2021 | 31 | 34 | 41 | 43 | | | More excited than concerned | 2026 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 4 | | 2025 | 14 | 15 | 7 | 4 | | | 2024 | 19 | 14 | 7 | 4 | | | 2023 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 4 | | | 2022 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 10 | | | 2021 | 25 | 21 | 13 | 11 | For the first time, a majority of adults under 30 55% now say they’re more concerned than excited about AI. About one-in-ten say they’re more excited than concerned, and roughly a third feel both equally. Their concern is now on par with those in their 30s and 40s, and those 65 and up. Across age groups, about half or more say they’re more concerned than excited about AI. Excitement, in turn, has dropped off since 2021 among all age groups. AI and jobs | Fewer jobs | Will not make much difference | More jobs | | |---|---|---|---| | 2024 | 64 | 14 | 5 | | 2026 | 71 | 10 | 5 | Even in 2021, job loss was one of the top reasons https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/03/17/how-americans-think-about-artificial-intelligence/ps 2022-03-17 ai-he 01-02-png/ behind Americans’ concern about AI. Today, Americans largely – and increasingly – think AI-related job loss is on the horizon. In our new survey, 71% of adults think AI will lead to fewer jobs in the United States over the next two decades, up from 64% in 2024. Few 5% say AI will lead to more jobs. One-in-ten say it won’t make much difference, and a slightly larger share are unsure. Across most age groups, it’s become more common for Americans to foresee job loss from AI. For example, 73% of adults under 30 now say AI will lead to fewer jobs, up from 61% two years ago. The youngest adults are now just as likely as those ages 30 to 64 to hold this view. Americans 65 and older are a bit less likely to think AI will lead to fewer jobs, though this is still the majority view among this age group. Young adults are now just as likely as those 30 to 64 to think AI will take people’s jobs fewer jobs in the U.S. over the next 20 years Young adults are now just as likely as those 30 to 64 to think AI will take people’s jobs fewer jobs in the U.S. over the next 20 years | 2024 | 2026 | | |---|---|---| | Ages 18-29 | 61 | 73 | | 30-49 | 66 | 74 | | 50-64 | 69 | 72 | | 65+ | 58 | 63 | Worry over job loss has shown up throughout our research about AI, including among workers https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2025/02/25/u-s-workers-are-more-worried-than-hopeful-about-future-ai-use-in-the-workplace/ and even teenagers https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/how-teens-use-and-view-ai/ in-their-own-words . And there’s no shortage of expert debate – many warn AI is a threat to jobs https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/13/business/economists-ai-threat-jobs.html , while others have argued it creates them https://fortune.com/2026/06/01/apollo-chief-economist-torsten-slok-zero-evidence-ai-killing-jobs-says-its-creating-them/ . Young adults aren’t the only ones concerned about AI’s increasing use in daily life, or about job loss. Still, our past work shows they stand out in other ways. Adults under 30 are most likely to think 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/ . They largely think it will make connection and creativity harder to come by https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2025/09/17/ai-impact-on-people-society-appendix/ps 2024-9-15 ai-and-its-impact a-08/ . And though most say they use chatbots, they’re just as likely to say these tools hurt their own creativity https://www.pewresearch.org/chart/unlike-older-americans-adults-under-30-are-just-as-likely-to-think-chatbots-hurt-their-creativity-as-help-it/ as help it. Note: Here are the questions we used for this analysis, the topline and the survey methodology.