Gen Z’s AI backlash is getting louder
https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-graduates-ai-backlash-commencement-speeches-anxiety-job-market-2026-5
Gen Z’s AI backlash is getting louder
https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-graduates-ai-backlash-commencement-speeches-anxiety-job-market-2026-5
35 Comments
If Democrats want a winning message, push for AI regulation hard. Unfortunately so many on that side work for the oligarchs too.
Gen Z graduating into a job market where companies want “entry level candidates” with 5 years experience while simultaneously replacing half the entry level work with AI is genuinely brutal timing.
I love getting emails from people who clearly didn’t read what I sent and just had AI write a response for them.
No millennials are back lashing too
Is it really a backlash when no one likes it, needs it or wants it?
The next big politician to push for AI Regulation and Laws that help people have job stability and combat the insane greed we’re seeing on every level of corporate wins the next election easily, instead of what we’re getting now, which is a Robber Baron who’s basically made it impossible to roadblock the rise of AI and is also helping build out data centers up the wazoo for what seems purely mass surveillance reasons.
The only issue I have with this narrative is that it gives credibility for companies to layoff and blame it on AI
I don’t think this is specific to Gen Z…as a millennial, there is a TON of backlash from us (and even Gen x) as well.
I thought GenZ were the ones USING AI to cheat through school?
How can you backlash against something you willing use.
Millennial here, fuck AI
I’m legit going to be a one issue voter this cycle. Any candidate that will regulate these AI ghouls dicks into the dirt has my vote.
Well there was one thing The Matrix got wrong. “All of humanity was united in celebration as we gave birth to AI.”
I had to take an online training class yesterday about cybersecurity and the dangers of AI in the workplace that also seemed to want me to come up with innovative ways to use AI in the workplace.
Oh, and the presenters were AI generated. And this was presented as if it was clever.
There is not one good thing from AI to regular Joe’s.
AI is a tool for rich biz owners to slap labor in face and automate / cut middle class jobs.
AI is destroying the American dream doe new generations and they all know they UBI or any other assistance as a result will never happen. They are right to push back
*So* much fucking capital is being put into this AI buildout. This country has infrastructure for the 1960’s and this is where the trillions are going
“AI is going to replace you and make me rich” is not exactly a winning message.
Gen X reporting in, same here.
Online backlash doesn’t translate to people actually being vocal to their representatives or actually getting out and doing something about it. Complaining on Reddit won’t do anything, more people need to get out and join the few that are organizing in various ways.
I recently applied to a job that used AI during the recruitment process. Gave the AI my resume, and answered a lot of common sense questions about availability etc. The AI then said to complete the job application via another link to another workday-esque website that was the actual job posting. AI was completely useless for the process except to steal my data. The workday-esque job application portal auto filled the application incorrectly when I re-uploaded my resume a second time, and then crashed when I tried filling it out.
If I see AI acting as a gatekeeper for a job posting, I move on with other candidates now. Candidates that will respect my time and data. Maybe I should move out of the country if it’s all going to be like this, but alas, I am trapped here. Aliens, invade us and make this stop. /jk
The big question is will they stand firm, or just give in and go with the winds of change?
That was pretty much what happened with the Boomers back in the 70’s. Just rolled over and said: “Alright, if I need to abandon my principles and just make money like the world is telling me to, I guess I have to.”
Im a millennial and I cant fkgn stand ai.
Their mistake is thinking its only GenZ
Everyone fucking hates AI.
GenX here. Take your AI tech bro bullshit and shove it.
I think most people across generations oppose it. I would say economic status impacts your stance on AI.
i call bullshit on any claim made for any generation. Gen z cant be easily pinned down. in my experience there is a range of thoughtfulness similar to every other cohort of humans.
*Gen Z is killing interest in AI*
Millennials: “Look at you, all grown up and killing things just like we used to do according to every article complaining about it.”
I think the ultra wealthy are in for a rude awakening in the next few years. People don’t want AI and they don’t want data centers.
“anxious about their future”
WITHOUT JOBS OR WATER
Hey Gen Z…..don’t make the same mistake Millennials did by letting Boomers outvote them for decades.
Vote in more than just presidential elections. Vote in midterms. Vote in local elections. Show up to city council meetings. Volunteer for candidates you actually believe in.
If you don’t consistently participate, you’ll get nothing you want.
Pro-silver = anti-ai.
Silver is used 3x in ai datacenters than regular ones.
Silver is scarce enough individuals can pull that lever.
Hit them at the resource level. Legislative has been captured.
As a millennial who graduated into post 2008 economy, was affected by COVID and now AI, I’m impressed with Gen Z. We millennials suck at organizing and making an impact.
Wait till Data Centers start getting attacked.
I feel like a bit of an odd one out reading these comments. I mean ai slop and the replacement of real human content is absolutely terrible. Dead internet is happening so fast it’s its own kind of spectacle. But as a maker, who is not a coder, working with ai for coding, vibe coding my own projects, is insane. This is where it seems the most interesting to me, where legit it does something that I cannot do, at a level of complexity I could never achieve. It’s like trying to drive a nail with my fist, then being given a hammer.