59% of young people are concerned about AI impacting their job opportunities, shows new Harvard Youth Poll

A recent survey indicates that many young Americans are concerned about the influence of artificial intelligence on their future employment. According to the Harvard Youth Poll, 59% of respondents aged 18 to 29 see AI as a potential risk to their job prospects.

Breaking down the responses, 26% of young adults consider AI a serious threat, while 33% see it as a minor concern. In contrast, 23% believe AI does not threaten their career opportunities. This level of worry surpasses concerns about other factors traditionally linked to job insecurity, such as outsourcing (48%) and immigration (31%).

Despite apprehensions, younger Americans are increasingly using AI tools. About 35% report regularly using large language models like ChatGPT or Claude, whereas 63% have not used them frequently. Over half (52%) of respondents said they trust AI to assist with school or work tasks.

The survey also revealed skepticism regarding AI's impact on the nature of work. Forty-one percent of participants believe AI will make work feel less meaningful in the future, compared to only 14% who expect it to make work more meaningful. Similarly, 44% feel that AI will reduce career opportunities, while just 14% think it could create new ones.

The Harvard Youth Poll collected responses from 2,040 Americans aged 18 to 29 between November 3 and 7, with a margin of error of 2.94%.

Author: Lucas Grant