There is a widespread stereotype that young people are quick to embrace almost every new technology: they grew up with phones in their hands, feel at home in the digital world, and would find it difficult to imagine life without it. Older generations, by contrast, are often assumed to approach new technologies more cautiously, take longer to get used to them, or even reject them altogether. Research, however, suggests that the reality is not quite so simple.
Do younger people use AI more?
When it comes to usage, the stereotype does appear to hold true: according to a 2026 Pew Research Center study, 66% of Americans aged 18–29 use AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot, compared with 42% of those aged 50–64 and 23% of those aged 65 and over.
The difference is even more striking when it comes to regular use: nearly a third of younger adults use AI chatbots every day, compared with just 7% of those aged 65 and over. For younger people, then, AI is much more firmly embedded in their everyday digital toolkit.
But does using AI more also mean trusting it more?
The Gen Z paradox
For Gen Z, the answer is far from straightforward: while they actively use AI, they are also aware of its potential consequences. In Deloitte’s survey spanning 44 countries, more than half said they use generative AI in their day-to-day work, while nearly two-thirds expressed concern that AI could eliminate jobs.
This uncertainty is particularly understandable for a generation whose members are now entering, or have only recently entered, the workforce – just as AI is becoming capable of performing more and more tasks that were traditionally assigned to entry-level employees. As many as 61% of Gen Z are also concerned that the technology could make it more difficult for young people to enter the workforce.
This does not mean they are turning their backs on AI – quite the opposite. Some 59% say AI-related skills will be important for their own career progression. In other words, while they are concerned about AI’s impact on the labour market, they also recognise that knowing how to use the technology may become increasingly important for their own success.
At the same time, active use does not necessarily mean that young people feel confident navigating AI-generated content. This is also reflected in a Worldcom PR Group survey conducted across 20 countries in May 2026, involving more than 150 communications professionals under the age of 30. Most respondents were concerned to some degree about online disinformation, and most did not consider themselves highly confident in their ability to identify AI-generated content. Nearly half had also unintentionally shared content that they later discovered contained false information.
It’s not just about how much – but what AI is used for
When it comes to what people use AI for, the picture becomes more nuanced. For search, for example, younger and older Americans use AI at surprisingly similar rates, with slightly more than one in three respondents in both groups saying they use it for this purpose.
The gap is much wider when it comes to creative tasks. Gen Z are more than three times as likely as Baby Boomers to use AI for brainstorming, while the difference in image generation is more than twofold.
The picture is far more complex than simply assuming that young people are enthusiastic about AI while older generations reject it. Younger people do use the technology more frequently and for a wider range of tasks, but they are also aware of its potential risks and do not necessarily feel confident navigating AI-generated content. Older generations are less active users, but this does not automatically mean that they reject AI; rather, it plays a different role in their everyday lives.
Key findings of the article:
- How do different generations use AI differently?
Younger and older people use AI for search at similar rates, while younger generations are significantly more likely to use it for brainstorming and other creative tasks. - Do young people understand AI better than older generations?
Research shows that younger people use AI more frequently and for a wider range of purposes. However, this alone does not mean that they understand it better in every respect. - Why are young people concerned about AI if they use it so much?
While many young people use generative AI and consider AI-related skills important, many are also concerned that the technology could eliminate jobs and make it more difficult for young people to enter the workforce. - Do older generations reject AI?
No. Although AI use is lower among older people, this does not mean that they reject the technology. For certain tasks, such as search, they use AI at surprisingly similar rates to younger people.
