Gen Z often gets labeled as spoiled or overly sensitive. I’ve been critical of my generation in the past, but there are moments when their concerns resonate with me.
Those born between 1997 and 2012 have faced a cascade of significant events during their formative years.
Typically, these young adults received gadgets like iPads or iPhones as teens, with their childhood largely dominated by screen time.
Amid all this, their school experiences were dramatically disrupted by the pandemic. Now, as they transition from college to the workforce, they confront perhaps their greatest challenge yet: the rise of artificial intelligence, which feels threatening to their prospects.
It’s no wonder anxiety looms over them.
“I wouldn’t say I’m terribly unhappy, but many people my age are navigating some tough situations,” noted Kiran Subramanian, a recent grad from Rutgers University. “Right now, there’s this air of skepticism toward AI, especially for those of us seeking entry-level roles.”
Jobs meant to help young people enter the workforce are increasingly vulnerable to automation. So, it’s natural for them to feel like the opportunity ladder is being pulled away.
At graduation ceremonies nationwide, students are vocalizing their discontent with speakers who promote AI. For instance, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt faced backlash at the University of Arizona when students booed his optimistic remarks on AI.
A similar incident occurred at the University of Central Florida, where entrepreneur Gloria Caulfield was taken aback by a chorus of boos after claiming that the emergence of AI represents the next industrial revolution.
The message students are conveying is quite clear: they are apprehensive about AI. Recent surveys indicate that their excitement around the technology has waned significantly over the past year. Particularly, new graduates looking for jobs are feeling the heat.
“You’re trying to gain qualifications through internships and networking,” mentioned Wilson Polcher, a Clemson University grad. “And then, it feels frustrating when everything you’ve worked for could be overshadowed by AI.”
This 22-year-old from South Carolina is taking a summer to regroup before entering the job market, hoping for a more favorable environment. He shared, “Some classmates are questioning, ‘Why bother with work when AI could take our jobs?'”
A notable rise in applications among 2025 graduates—almost double what 2024 graduates experienced—comes amid expectations of job reductions due to AI. Alana Toepfer, 27, has seen these shifts firsthand.
After graduating in 2021, she stepped into a business development role right away. However, since resigning a year and a half ago, she has faced relentless job hunting, applying for around 500 positions without much feedback.
“Back when I graduated, it felt easier to land interviews even without specific experience,” she reflected. “Now, when I do receive responses, they seem automated and impersonal.”
Sometimes she even encounters interviews conducted by AI, where she answers questions posed by a chatbot.
I genuinely sympathize with these young individuals striving to carve out their place in a job market that’s rapidly changing. It’s not the first time they’ve had to adjust to significant shifts.
During their childhood, they became early adopters of smartphones and tablets, often with unprepared parents. Research by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt suggests a troubling correlation between technology use and rising anxiety levels among youth.
Then the pandemic hit while many of them were still in school, leading to an extended lockdown that severely disrupted their social and educational growth, resulting in lasting learning deficits.
It almost feels like a curse—although they’re still young, they’ve faced significant upheaval, and now AI is the latest challenge on their path.
Jean Twenge, a psychologist and researcher on generational issues, shared, “Each generation encounters a reality they didn’t create, and they lack substantial control over it.” She emphasized that these cultural pressures come without input from younger people.
However, she also pointed out that it’s up to each generation to respond: “They can fall into nihilism—believing nothing matters—or be vocal without taking action, which aligns with nihilism. Alternatively, they could choose to engage actively, whether through protests, political involvement, or career changes.”
Generation Z wasn’t old enough to challenge the constant screen exposure during childhood or the lockdowns imposed on them in school.
Yet, perhaps due to the stakes involved, they might just rise to the challenge and help forge a future that upholds human dignity in an increasingly automated landscape.
