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Artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday life at a remarkable pace, but young Americans are increasingly viewing that shift with caution rather than enthusiasm. A new Pew Research Center survey found that 55% of U.S. adults ages 18 to 29 say they are more concerned than excited about the growing use of AI in daily life, the highest level recorded for this age group since Pew began asking the question in 2021.
The change is notable because younger Americans once stood out as one of the groups most likely to express excitement about AI. In 2021, just 31% of adults ages 18 to 29 said they were more concerned than excited, while 25% said they were more excited than concerned. By 2026, the share expressing greater concern had climbed to 55%, while excitement had fallen to just 11%.
The latest findings suggest that familiarity with AI has not necessarily translated into greater confidence about its future. As young adults encounter AI in education, workplaces, entertainment and online services, concerns about employment, human skills, privacy and the broader consequences of automation appear to be playing a larger role in how they view the technology.
Job Security Is Becoming a Major AI Concern
One of the biggest reasons for growing concern is the possibility that AI could change the job market before younger workers have established themselves professionally. Pew’s 2026 research found that young adults’ worries about AI continue to rise, with concern among people under 30 increasing even as concern among some older age groups has remained relatively stable or declined from earlier peaks.
The shift is particularly significant for people entering the workforce at a time when employers are experimenting with AI tools that can perform tasks once handled exclusively by employees. Young workers may benefit from greater productivity and new career opportunities, but they also face uncertainty over which entry-level jobs will remain available and which skills will retain their value as AI systems become more capable.
This concern is part of a broader change in American attitudes. Across all U.S. adults, 52% said in Pew’s June 2026 survey that they were more concerned than excited about increased AI use, compared with 37% in 2021. Only 9% of Americans were more excited than concerned in 2026, while 37% said they were equally concerned and excited.
The AI Debate Goes Beyond Jobs
Employment is not the only issue shaping attitudes toward AI. Earlier Pew research found that Americans are also concerned about the technology’s effects on human abilities and relationships, with many respondents questioning whether increasing reliance on AI could weaken skills such as creative thinking and meaningful interaction with other people.
The concern also reflects a desire for greater control over how AI is introduced into everyday life. Pew reported in 2025 that about six-in-ten Americans wanted more control over how AI is used, while nearly three-quarters were nevertheless willing to allow AI to assist with at least some day-to-day activities. That combination shows that skepticism does not necessarily mean rejection of the technology.
The international picture is similarly cautious. In a 2025 Pew survey covering 25 countries, a median of 34% of adults said they were more concerned than excited about AI’s increasing use in daily life, while 42% were equally concerned and excited and only 16% were more excited than concerned. In no country surveyed was the largest share of respondents more excited than concerned, suggesting that uncertainty about AI extends well beyond the United States.
Young Americans Are Entering an Uncertain AI Era
The growing concern among young Americans does not necessarily mean they believe AI is entirely harmful or that they want the technology to disappear. Instead, the numbers suggest that many young adults are trying to understand how rapidly changing AI systems could affect their careers, personal lives, and society before the long-term consequences are fully known.
The fact that concern among 18-to-29-year-olds has risen from 31% in 2021 to 55% in 2026 represents a substantial shift in sentiment. At the same time, the percentage who are more excited than concerned has dropped from 25% to 11%, showing that enthusiasm has increasingly given way to a more cautious assessment of what AI could mean for the future.
For young Americans, the challenge may ultimately be finding a balance between embracing useful AI tools and preparing for the risks that accompany them. As employers, schools, and governments determine how the technology should be used, the growing skepticism among younger adults could become an important part of the national debate over how much influence AI should have over work and everyday life.