A growing number of Gen Z workers in the United States are expressing concern over how artificial intelligence is reshaping the job market. A 2025 Harvard survey reveals that most members of this generation perceive AI as a direct risk to their future employment. This anxiety has led to visible reactions, including protests at university graduations where speakers advocating for AI were met with boos. These incidents reflect broader unease about the long-term viability of traditional career paths in an era where automation increasingly handles tasks once performed by humans.
Rachel Janfaza, head of The Up and Up research firm, offers insight into the roots of this resistance. She explains that young professionals worry the tools designed to boost efficiency may ultimately diminish their value in the workforce. As automation advances, many graduating students fear they will be replaced rather than empowered by technology. This shift in perception underscores a fundamental change in how younger workers view their role in a digital economy, highlighting a deepening tension between innovation and job security.