Meet the Gen Zers who have sworn off AI — and ask their friends to do the same

A growing faction of Gen Z is voicing strong opposition to artificial intelligence, challenging the narrative of their generation as 'AI natives.' Among them, 23-year-old Alexis Rose Young has taken a firm stance against the technology, citing environmental concerns as a primary reason. Young, a marine biology student, has observed that AI's carbon footprint is significant, particularly due to the energy demands of data centers. A Goldman Sachs report anticipates that emissions from these centers could double by 2030, an alarming trend for those who prioritize sustainability. Young actively seeks to minimize her interaction with AI, even opting to disable features in services that utilize it. She recalls a recent situation in her customer service job where her manager proposed using AI for design tasks. Young attempted to voice her concerns, emphasizing her commitment to professionalism while advocating for the environment. Similarly, 24-year-old Cheyenne Shoemaker, who previously worked in mental healthcare, has noticed a troubling trend of people favoring AI tools like ChatGPT over human therapists. Shoemaker argues that the therapist-client relationship is crucial for effective therapy, and she worries that technology is eroding essential social skills. Her frustration extends to her personal life, where she actively avoids AI, even disabling updates on her phone to prevent new features that incorporate it. Weezy Simes, 27, shares a passionate dislike for AI, particularly its impact on her work as a florist. She has witnessed clients bring in AI-generated floral designs that often feature nonexistent flowers. This influx of AI-generated content on platforms like Etsy has adversely affected her sales, leading her to believe that AI is detrimental to community and environmental health. Simes has never knowingly used AI and encourages her friends to do the same, recalling a conversation where she admonished a roommate for using ChatGPT. Delaney Vetter, 26, echoes similar concerns, highlighting both ethical and environmental implications of AI. She recalls a statement from OpenAI's CEO regarding the enormous energy costs associated with AI interactions. Vetter has observed her friends, who are typically environmentally conscious, using AI for mundane tasks, which she finds troubling. As a food and beverage publicist, she remains skeptical of AI's usefulness in her field and prefers to take notes manually during meetings to enhance retention and engagement. This emerging resistance among Gen Z reflects a significant dialogue about the role of AI in modern society, raising questions about its long-term implications for personal interaction, environmental sustainability, and community well-being.