Americans aged 50 to 64 are increasingly sure that AI is coming for people’s jobs, yet they are steadily growing less worried about the technology’s rise.
According to the latest Pew Research Center data, 72% of these older adults believe AI will lead to fewer U.S. jobs over the next two decades, up from 69% in 2024. Yet, only 47% of them say they are more concerned than excited about AI in daily life, a steady drop from 59% in 2023.
Why the sudden chill? Commenters on tech site Gizmodo point out that this demographic is closer to retirement, more likely to own property, and financially secure enough to outrun the threat. They simply have less to fear than younger workers.
For those under 30, the mood is much darker. A solid majority of young adults, 55%, now say they are more concerned than excited about AI. That is a massive shift from 2021, when only 31% felt that way and a quarter were genuinely excited.
Their anxiety is driven by a collapsing sense of job security. Today, 73% of young adults expect AI to shrink the job market over the next 20 years, up from 61% just two years ago.
They also see AI as a threat to human connection and creativity. Even though most young adults use chatbots, they are just as likely to say these tools actively hurt their creativity as help it.
Nationwide, pessimism is winning. Overall, 52% of Americans are more concerned than excited about AI, and 71% believe it will lead to fewer jobs. While tech CEOs and economists debate whether AI kills or creates jobs, everyday Americans are preparing for a leaner workforce.
