Millennials have overtaken Gen Z as America's most-active users of artificial intelligence, according to a new survey from Channel V Media. The findings suggest that younger workers may be approaching the technology with greater caution and anxiety than their slightly older co-workers. Specifically, the survey of 7,675 U.S. adults in June found that 47.2 percent of millennials use generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot, compared with just 44.3 percent of Gen Z adults.
"The biggest perception gap is simple. Millennials see AI as a team that works for them. Gen Z sees it as a competitor for their first job, and for now the hiring data says they're right," Serhii Nikolaichuk, the founder and CEO of The Capital Index, told Newsweek.
The new survey results suggest the AI conversation is becoming less about age and technological familiarity and more about workplace experience and the perceived risk of these tools. For years, businesses assumed Gen Z would lead AI adoption because of the generation's comfort with tech. However, in reality, Gen Z may be demonstrating greater concern about how this technology could affect their jobs and society overall.
The new survey challenges the widely held assumption that Gen Z, often described as the first fully digital generation, would naturally be leading AI adoption, experts say. But, breaking down expectations, it’s actually millennials who have become AI’s fiercest proponents. Beyond just their higher usage rates, millennials were also more likely to view autonomous AI positively.
Nearly 30 percent (29.6 percent) said agentic AI is a good idea, compared with 22.6 percent of Gen Z respondents. At the same time, Gen Z appeared significantly more apprehensive about the technology's impact on work and daily life. According to the survey, 14.8 percent of Gen Z respondents said they fear losing their job to AI, nearly double the rate among millennials at 8.3 percent.
Gen Z was also the generation most likely to report feeling anxious about AI, with 21.9 percent expressing concern. "It’s no surprise to me that Gen Z is more concerned about job security. Their fear is justified," Nayan Goel, a principal application security engineer at Upgrade Inc and AI researcher, told Newsweek.
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