59% of young people believe AI poses a threat to their job prospects, according to a new Harvard Youth Poll

A recent survey highlights a significant concern among young Americans regarding the influence of artificial intelligence on their employment prospects. According to the Harvard Youth Poll, 59% of individuals aged 18 to 29 perceive AI as a potential threat to their job opportunities. This figure includes 26% who classify AI as a major threat and 33% who consider it a minor one. In contrast, only 23% of respondents felt that AI does not pose any threat at all. The anxiety surrounding AI surpasses concerns about other common factors affecting job security. For instance, 48% of young participants expressed worries about outsourcing, while 31% identified immigration as a job threat. Despite these fears, a notable 35% of those surveyed reported regular use of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Claude, while 63% indicated they do not use these technologies. Additionally, 52% expressed confidence in AI's ability to assist with work or educational assignments. Conducted between November 3 and 7 among 2,040 Americans in the specified age group, the poll carries a margin of error of 2.94%. Results also reveal a prevalent pessimism regarding the future of work influenced by AI. A striking 41% of respondents foresee AI diminishing the meaningfulness of work in upcoming years, while only 14% believe it will enhance this aspect. Furthermore, 44% of young individuals feel that AI will reduce their opportunities, compared to just 14% who anticipate the creation of new opportunities due to AI advancements.