Young people and AI in the workplace

A recent survey reveals that young professionals are both driving and hesitantly involved in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) at work. They use AI tools to stay competitive, even as they express concerns about becoming too reliant on them and how it might affect their professional identity.

Schmidt's controversial remarks

Eric Schmidt, a former executive at Google, faced strong criticism in May 2023 when he encouraged students at the University of Arizona to accept the "inevitable revolution" of AI. The audience responded with boos and hisses, showing their disagreement with his stance.

Growing skepticism toward AI

A report from Gallup, the Walton Family Foundation, and GSV Ventures shows that between 2025 and 2026, anger toward AI among American twenty-somethings increased from 22 to 31 percent. At the same time, the percentage of people who are enthusiastic about AI dropped from 36 to 22 percent.

Resistance to AI in the workplace

A survey of 2,400 workers in Europe and the United States in April 2026 found that 29 percent would undermine their company's generative AI strategy by either refusing to use the tools or manipulating evaluations. This number rises to 44 percent among Generation Z, showing a trend similar to historical resistance against new technologies.

Young workers actively use AI

Despite the resistance, young employees are using generative AI in their jobs. Youssef Souak, an expert in human resource management, points out that young workers are integrating AI tools into their work. For example, a young salesperson in the medical field uses a conversational robot to help answer complex client questions, and this is approved by management.

Higher AI adoption among younger workers

In France, surveys show younger workers are more likely to use generative AI at work. An Ipsos study from 2026 found that 58 percent of employees under 35 use generative AI in their professional context, compared to 29 percent of those aged 55 and over. Among those under 25, 89 percent have already used generative AI, compared to 43 percent of the general population.