Gen Z is pushing back against AI – a reminder to all of us that the future isn’t written
Gen Z is pushing back against AI – a reminder to all of us that the future isn’t written
Publish Date: 2026-07-15 19:50:00
Source Domain: theconversation.com
Martin Scorsese recently announced he will be joining generative artificial intelligence (AI) company Black Forest Labs. He said he would embrace AI for storyboarding – the practice of creating a visual outline in the early stages of developing a movie or TV show.
The announcement was met with significant online backlash and sentiments about how AI has the potential to “ruin cinema”.
The announcement follows recent viral footage showing graduate students at multiple college ceremonies booing commencement speakers who praised generative AI. Speaking at the University of Florida, property developer Gloria Caulfield declared AI is “the next Industrial Revolution”. The humanities graduates, already burdened with debt and job insecurity, responded with a torrent of boos.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta were also booed as they sang the praises of AI at graduation ceremonies. Their bemused reactions reflect a growing generational divide when it comes to AI adoption.
Who’s actually enthusiastic about new tech?
It’s often assumed younger generations are the most enthusiastic adopters of new technologies. Yet numerous studies already show gen Z is pushing back against AI.
A recent Gallup study found gen Z is
not convinced that AI enhances creativity or critical thinking, and the majority believe it may come at a cost, particularly to learning.
In contrast, a 2025 Thomson Reuters survey found the most “ambitious group” predicting AI would enter the workplace were baby boomers.
Baby boomers and AI
Baby boomers bridged the gap between analogue technologies like the typewriter and digital innovations like word processors. The labour market was defined by long hours and administrative filing.
This explains why, according to survey data, many boomers see AI as a revolutionary tool. They think AI not only saves time, but is more intuitive than the technologies they once relied upon. …
