Young and struggling adults show highest pessimism towards AI, polling shows

LONDON — Increasing age and financial security correspond to increasing positivity towards AI and what it can bring, according new polling from Public First shared with POLITICO.

The least positive age group are 18 to 24-year-olds who are concerned about the technology’s impact on their own thinking skills and career progression. Although the heaviest users of the tech, more than a third of 18-24s worry that AI will make critical thinking harder, and exactly a third think developing career-relevant expertise will become more difficult, finds the polling.

The age group was the most pessimistic across all career-related issues, spanning independent problem solving and learning from mentors.

Compare the young adults to the 35 to 44-year olds, who use the tech as heavily as their younger counterparts, and a divergence is clear: only 19 percent of 18-24s think AI will improve both their own opportunities and society, whereas 28 percent of the older group does. The AI tools available are the same, but the older group already have career experience and expertise.

Among those who describe themselves as already very financially comfortable across all age ranges, 43 percent expect AI to improve their own circumstances further and also improve society. Of the poorest category, those who cannot afford essentials, only 18 percent share this view and 51 percent expect AI to harm both them and society.

The results do not prove that financial insecurity causes pessimism, note the study authors, but highlight that as young adults are entering the jobs market without the financial and professional security of older groups, their concerns around AI sit on top of their existing uncertainties.

This trend tracks into the future with similar results on questions around how AI affects people’s personal economic optimism.