Most recent studies clearly show that Gen Z’s relationship with Artificial Intelligence is getting more complicated by day. To make it very clear, Generation Z is currently aged 14 to 29, meaning people born between 1997 and 2012. This brief article is about Gallup’s recent findings.
For those being with the digital industry for at least 10-15 years this does not come as a surprise. Back in 2012-2013, I was part of a team working on game development project for young children aiming to help improve brain functioning and development affected by digital screens. Due to confidentiality reasons I cannot provide more details, yet I can tell you this. The reasons behind the request had to do the worrying study findings from some of the most respects academic research centers across the globe. Almost 15 years later there’s an abundance of studies raising serious concerns about digital screen, social media and smart-phone addiction and more recently AI’s impact on teen and young adults’s well-being.
Key facts & insights
According to Gallup’s 2026 study (Feb 24–Mar 4, 2026) study, 51% of Generation Z report using generative Artificial Intelligence at least weekly. But, even most AI’s engaged are less positive about it than they were a year ago. Gen Z’s use of AI is mostly steady, but enthusiasm for it has declined while skepticism has climbed. Gen Zers are questioning AI’s effects on their cognitive skills, particularly in areas tied to thinking, learning and creativity. Concerns among Gen Z that AI may undermine skill development appear to be outweighing its perceived efficiency gains.
Surveying 1,572, Gen Zers’ excitemnet about using AI has dropped 14 percentage points to 22%, while hopefulness has fallen nine points to 18%, and anger has increased nine points to 31%.
- 56% of Gen Z now agree or strongly agree that AI tools can help expedite work and this is down 10 points from 2025; in other words, they are less inclined to believe AI actually improves efficiency in learning and completing tasks;
- 69% of Gen Z workers place more trust in the work completed without AI; only 3% place more trust in AI-generated work; these findings are similar to last year’s<
- 46% agree that AI can accelerate learning (7% dropped compared to 2025); they are not convinced that AI enhances creativity or critical thinking. The majority believe that using AI may come at a cost, particularly to learning;
- 52% of Gen Z K-12 students think they will need to know how to use AI (5% increase), if they plan to go to college or take other classes after high school;