Gen Z & Millennials Are Losing Trust In AI’s Biggest Leaders

Artificial intelligence's (AI) biggest names may be shaping the future of technology, but younger Americans are not convinced they should be trusted with it.

A new CNBC and Generation Lab poll found that a majority of Americans aged 18 to 34 distrust every one of nine prominent AI industry leaders surveyed, while many also expect AI to negatively affect their careers.
 

TL;DR

 

• Every AI leader included in the poll received majority distrust among Americans aged 18 to 34.
• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella performed best, but 65% still said they did not trust him to act responsibly on AI.
• Around 45% expect AI to negatively affect their careers, while just 10% think it will help.
• Most respondents also favor some form of AI regulation.

 

Gen Z And Millennials Distrust Every Major AI Leader Surveyed

When young adults aged 18 to 34 were asked whether they trusted nine prominent AI industry figures to act responsibly on AI, every leader received majority distrust.

Even Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who performed best among the group, was distrusted by nearly two-thirds of respondents.

 

• Satya Nadella (Microsoft - CEO): Trust: 35% | Distrust: 65%
• Sam Altman (OpenAI - CEO): Trust: 31% | Distrust: 69%
• Elon Musk (SpaceX - CEO): Trust: 30% | Distrust: 70%
• Mark Zuckerberg (Meta - CEO): Trust: 29% | Distrust: 71%
• Jensen Huang (Nvidia - CEO): Trust: 29% | Distrust: 71%
• Sundar Pichai (Alphabet - CEO): Trust: 26% | Distrust: 74%
• Dario Amodei (Anthropic - CEO): Trust: 24% | Distrust: 76%
• Peter Thiel (Palantir - Chairman): Trust: 21% | Distrust: 79%
• Alex Karp (Palantir - CEO): Trust: 19% | Distrust: 81%

 

The numbers leave little ambiguity about sentiment toward AI’s most recognizable decision-makers. Even the highest-ranked leader failed to secure trust from more than 35% of respondents, while distrust climbed as high as 81% for Palantir CEO Alex Karp.
 

 

Younger Americans Fear AI Could Hurt Their Careers

That distrust comes as younger Americans increasingly question what AI could mean for their own jobs.

Around 45% of respondents said they believe AI will negatively affect their careers, compared with only 10% who think the technology will help them.

The concern also appears alongside demand for oversight. About 40% said the federal government should establish rules for AI, while 36% preferred an independent expert body to set them.

Just 8% said AI should not be regulated.

Meanwhile, 60% believe data center construction must be slowed, compared with 15% who favor speeding it up.
 

 

Economic Anxiety Is Adding To Concerns Around AI

The skepticism toward AI comes amid widespread economic pessimism among the same age group.

Nearly 80% of respondents held a negative view of the American economy, while 50% said they expect it to worsen. Housing was the biggest financial pressure for 45%, followed by finding a secure and decent-paying job at 39%.

Those pressures are already affecting major spending decisions. About 47% said they had postponed vacations, 32% stopped plans to buy a car, 30% put off buying a home, and 28% had foregone healthcare.

The CNBC Generation Lab poll surveyed 1,088 Americans aged 18 to 34 earlier this month and reported a margin of error of 2.97 percentage points.

Taken together, the findings suggest younger Americans are not only questioning how AI could affect their careers and finances. They are also deeply skeptical of whether the industry’s most powerful leaders can be trusted to manage the technology responsibly.