Gen Z Skepticism: AI Disrupts Jobs, Politics, and the Economy

A Axios-Generation Lab poll of 18–34s finds 27% say they or someone they know lost a job to AI, while 71% are as or more comfortable with AI and 61% have used ChatGPT in the past month. Voters under 35 show broad distrust in both parties to lower living costs (36% say neither, 26% Democrats, 22% Republicans). Cost-of-living worries are widespread: 96% fret about rent, groceries, gas or utilities; 48% call the economy poor and 35% say a job search would be very or somewhat difficult. Trust in leaders is low: 66% disapprove of Trump’s handling of his job, 64% disapprove of his Iran-war handling. For 2028, Harris leads among Dems and JD Vance among Republicans, with independents favoring Michelle Obama, AOC and Bernie Sanders. The poll also shows a generational tilt toward socialism (68% positive/neutral) versus capitalism (47%).