Youth Express Growing Dread Over AI Impact, Job Fears Rise
- tech360.tv
- 57 minutes ago
- 2 min read
A deepening dread is taking hold among young "digital natives" as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes industries globally. They express fear over AI's impact on jobs and daily life, as tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini become widely known.
Former Google Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt told University of Arizona students that AI's impact would be "larger, faster, and more consequential" than previous innovations. He stated it would "touch every profession, every classroom, every hospital, every laboratory, every person, and every relationship" one has. Boos rang out during his speech, even as Schmidt addressed anxieties about job security and an uncertain future.
The real extent of these fears was highlighted by Standard Chartered's announcement of plans to cut more than 7,000 jobs. The organisation intends to replace "lower-value human capital" with AI.
Other technology firms are also reducing staff, citing AI as a factor. Meta is planning to lay off 10 per cent of its global workforce and is installing tracking software on U.S.-based employees' computers to train its AI model.
Amazon.com has axed some 30,000 corporate jobs, driven by its push for AI and efficiency. Fintech firm Block also cut nearly half its staff in February.
Schmidt acknowledged the young generation's fears as "rational," but, like many current top executives, he framed the change and disruption brought by AI as an inevitable development that everyone must adapt to.
However, despite executive embrace of AI, signs of pushback have emerged from various sectors. These include Chinese courts, trade unions at South Korean carmakers, Hollywood scriptwriters, and India's film industry.
A report from Gallup, released recently, indicated rising anxiety and anger among Generation Z individuals, born between 1997 and 2012, regarding AI. The number expressing hope or excitement about AI has fallen sharply compared with previous periods.
Nearly half of the respondents in the report stated that the risks of AI outweigh its benefits, while only 15 per cent viewed it as a net positive. Most participants recognised the need to be AI-savvy but also believed it hindered deeper learning and creativity.
The report's authors noted, "Negative emotions have intensified over the past year," and observed that AI usage was beginning to plateau. They added, "Young adults in the workforce are significantly more likely to view AI as a risk than a benefit."
Similarly, real estate executive Gloria Caulfield was heckled and booed at the University of Central Florida during a commencement speech about AI. She remarked, "The rise of artificial intelligence is the next industrial revolution," which initially prompted boos before the room burst into cheers.
Young "digital natives" express growing dread over AI's impact on jobs and daily life.
Companies like Standard Chartered, Meta, Amazon.com, and Block are cutting thousands of jobs, partly due to AI integration.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt acknowledged youth fears but described AI-driven change as inevitable.
Source: REUTERS
