I have five Gen-Z kids that are pushing back on GenAI hard and they claim their peers are getting angry about how it’s impacted their lives.
As a technologist I tend to lean into new things rapidly because that’s how I’ve survived in IT for so long. Since I’m not ready to retire I still have a vested interest in staying informed.
But the OP has definitely identified a psychological issue I think we’re all going through.
I’ve started pumping the brakes on Claude usage. Before I would invent a target to work on. Now I’m filtering existing tasks to needs and not spending nearly as much time in Claude.
I’d bet this is being felt by the AI companies and the correction we’ve been talking about is nearing.
GenAI is great as a tool. But it can’t be everything.
My oldest is on the tail end of Gen-Z and is vehemently anti-AI. This isn't a position I've been vocal about, she just kind of expressed her disdain for it one day.
I've been in IT a while, and am more of an AI skeptic - but I'm OK with it being used as a tool where it makes sense in my field, and it certainly has some value.... but shoehorning it into everything and using it as a general replacement for human creativity is a no-go for me.
It's a relief to know GenZ is feeling this way, and I hope having an entire generation against it will help pump the brakes a bit.
It makes sense. GenZ and younger have the most to lose from AI. Corporate America is absolutely giddy about its promise to make 50+% of white collar jobs redundant. I'd have a very negative view about it too, if I were just graduating college and looking for an entry-level office job.
Are you a software developer?
I think this issue gets more difficult for software developers. AI is especially good at software development.
You have to make a very strong business case to NOT be using AI. I hate it, but its the reality and the world we live in. Adopt, or be left behind.