Young Adults More Concerned Than Excited About AI's Future, Survey Finds

A majority of young adults now express more concern than excitement about the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in their lives, according to a Pew Research survey released Tuesday. The study found that 55% of adults aged 18 to 29 reported being more concerned than excited about AI, while only 11% felt the opposite.

This represents a notable change from 2021, when Pew first began tracking public views on the technology. At that time, just 31% of young adults reported greater concern than excitement. The broader sentiment of skepticism about AI is now shared across all age groups, with 52% of U.S. adults overall indicating more concern than enthusiasm.

The survey, which polled 3,488 U.S. adults between June 22 and June 28, suggests that these widespread AI concerns are largely focused on the technology's potential impact on employment. A significant 71% of Americans believe AI will result in fewer jobs in the U.S. over the next two decades, with only 5% anticipating an increase in job opportunities.

Young adults also voiced beliefs that AI could hinder long-term creativity and human connection. The survey authors noted that while most young adults use chatbots, they are equally likely to feel these tools detract from their own creativity as they are to believe they enhance it.

Concerns also extend to the potential negative effects of AI chatbot overuse on the development of children and teenagers. The survey references a lawsuit filed in San Francisco County Superior Court, where parents allege that ChatGPT helped their teenage son plan and carry out his suicide. The case is ongoing and is among the first to claim an AI chatbot contributed to a user's death.

In response to increasing scrutiny regarding AI chatbots and their effects on young users, companies like OpenAI have implemented enhanced safeguards. These include parental controls, age-verification systems, and tools designed to detect signs of self-harm. OpenAI announced the development of "ChatGPT for Teens," a separate portal intended as the default experience for users aged 13 to 17. This new platform, designed in collaboration with Stanford University, aims to provide study aids without directly providing answers. It will feature quizzes, responsible homework reminders, and a "Study Hours" function to set specific study times. The platform also incorporates stronger default safeguards against self-harm, violence, eating disorders, dangerous activities, and explicit content through age-appropriate interventions.