Why Some Gen Z Are Saying No To AI

While Gen Z is often labeled the first "AI native" generation, expected to embrace artificial intelligence in every aspect of life, from homework to work, a significant portion of this demographic is pushing back. Not every young person is on board with the AI revolution, and for many, the decision to opt-out is a conscious and firm one.

Interestingly, recent data challenges the stereotype of the AI-savvy Gen Z. A McKinsey study found that millennials actually report more familiarity and comfort with generative AI. This is supported by a Slack survey where 30% of millennials claimed to thoroughly understand AI agents, compared to just 22% of Gen Z.

This hesitation has blossomed into a fervent anti-AI movement for some. To understand the reasons behind this resistance, we explore the stories of four Gen Z women who are actively avoiding the technology in their daily lives.

Alexis Rose Young 23

As a 23-year-old marine biology student, Alexis Rose Young's primary concern is the environment. She believes AI has done "more harm than good," pointing to its massive carbon footprint. The AI boom has created an incredible demand for power from data centers, with a Goldman Sachs report indicating their CO2 emissions could double by 2030. While some studies suggest AI can be more efficient for certain tasks, the overall energy consumption is a major red flag for Alexis.

She actively tries to eliminate AI from her life, researching companies to turn off integrated AI features. When her manager at a customer service job used AI to sketch a design, Alexis voiced her concerns, carefully explaining her environmental and ethical reservations.

Cheyenne Shoemaker 24

With a background in mental healthcare, 24-year-old Cheyenne Shoemaker is alarmed by the trend of people using ChatGPT as a substitute for therapy. "A big part of the benefits of therapy is that therapist-client relationship," she explains, worried that our social skills are already being eroded by technology.

Frustrated by the push towards robotic interactions, Cheyenne avoids AI wherever possible. When she learned that iOS 18 would integrate Apple Intelligence, she immediately turned off her phone's automatic software updates. For her, a job requiring the use of AI tools would be a dealbreaker. "Ethically, I wouldn't be able to do that," she states, though she acknowledges the near-unavoidable nature of AI, such as in the app she uses for dog-walking gigs.

Weezy Simes 27

"Hate it! Don't want anything to do with it," is 27-year-old Weezy Simes's immediate response when asked about AI. As a florist and Etsy seller, she feels the negative impact of AI on her work firsthand. Clients bring her AI-generated images of non-existent flowers, and the Etsy platform is flooded with AI-generated art and descriptions.

"My sales have been majorly down," Weezy says, attributing the decline to both artist protests and a market oversaturated with low-quality, AI-generated items. Believing that AI is "destroying communities, health, and the environment," she has never knowingly used it and has even had a "big talking to" with a roommate she saw using ChatGPT, successfully convincing her to stop.

Delaney Vetter 26

Delaney Vetter, a 26-year-old food and beverage publicist, shares the "ethical and environmental" concerns. She was struck by reports of AI's immense electricity costs and the potential impact of data centers on local water supplies, as reported by The New York Times. She finds it hypocritical that her otherwise environmentally-conscious friends make an exception for AI, using it for simple tasks like creating grocery lists.

Professionally, Delaney finds AI unhelpful. She was skeptical when a former employer suggested using AI for headlines and has since seen a flood of generic, AI-written cover letters from intern applicants. She even had to ask an employee to stop using AI for emails because the responses were impersonal. Despite the temptation and prevalence of tools like AI notetakers on Zoom calls, she sticks to her principles. "I'm going to be taking notes because then I'm going to remember what we talked about... a lot of times, those AI recaps are really wonky."