Younger workers are more scared of AI than older employees, survey finds

August 28, 2026 / 12:18 PM EDT / CBS News

Younger workers are more pessimistic and cynical about how artificial intelligence will affect their jobs than older employees, according to a recent survey.

Generation Z Americans are the most critical of AI, with only a third of young employees speaking positively about its impact on the workplace, Glassdoor found in an analysis of workers' attitudes toward AI. By comparison, 47% of Gen X workers — people born between 1965 and 1980 — were high on AI.

"This was surprising, because generally we expect younger workers to be more comfortable and optimistic about technology," Glassdoor senior economist Chris Martin told CBS News.

Martin suspects younger workers' negative views of AI stem from fears that it will hurt their job and career prospects.

"There is a growing body of evidence that AI is displacing entry-level jobs that are more exposed to AI," he said. "The coming years are going to be more difficult for them because AI is changing the way they work, and they may not have access to jobs that workers did 20 years ago."

Many workers expressed concerns about being replaced by AI, while others resented being forced to…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/