LONDON, U.K.: Artificial intelligence is transforming workplaces around the world, but many young people entering the job market are reacting with growing anxiety rather than excitement.
That unease was on display this week when former Google Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt addressed graduates at the University of Arizona and described AI as a force that would reshape nearly every aspect of life.
"It will touch every profession, every classroom, every hospital, every laboratory, every person, and every relationship you have," Schmidt said.
His remarks drew boos from some students concerned about job security and the broader impact of artificial intelligence.
Schmidt acknowledged those concerns and said they were "rational," but argued that the changes brought by AI are inevitable and that workers will need to adapt.
Recent corporate announcements have reinforced those fears.
Standard Chartered said this week it plans to cut more than 7,000 jobs over the next four years as it replaces what Chief Executive Officer Bill Winters called "lower-value human capital" with artificial intelligence and automation.
Other major technology companies have also announced job reductions while investing heavily in AI. Meta is planning global layoffs, Amazon has eliminated tens of thousands of corporate jobs in recent months, and financial technology company Block cut nearly half its workforce in February.
A recent Gallup report suggests young adults are becoming more pessimistic about technology.
The April survey found that members of Generation Z — those born between 1997 and 2012 — are increasingly likely to feel anxious or angry about AI. Nearly half said the risks outweigh the benefits, while only 15 percent said artificial intelligence is a net positive.
"Negative emotions have intensified over the past year," the report's authors wrote. "Young adults in the workforce are significantly more likely to view AI as a risk than a benefit."
Most respondents said learning how to use AI is important, but many also believe it undermines creativity and deeper learning.
Schmidt's reception was not an isolated incident.
At the University of Central Florida earlier this month, real estate executive Gloria Caulfield was interrupted by boos during a commencement speech after she declared: "The rise of artificial intelligence is the next industrial revolution."
When she added, "What happened? OK, I struck a chord... Only a few years ago, AI was not a factor in our lives," the audience responded with cheers.
The reactions reflect a widening gap between corporate enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and growing public concern, especially among younger workers who fear the technology could reshape their futures in ways they cannot control.
