It's not just you nearly half of us wish we could just click our fingers and make generative AI disappear

Date:
Fri, 12 Jun 2026 05:05:00 +0000

Description:
New data reveals nearly half of British adults would get rid of generative AI entirely younger citizens unexpectedly lead the opposition.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Nearly half of British adults would eliminate generative AI entirely if they had the choice 18-24-year-olds most likely to eliminate GenAI and block new data center projects Public sentiment around AI has actually fallen since ChatGPT was launched New YouGov data has found nearly half (42%) of British adults would get rid of
generative AI entirely if they could, with a further fifth (22%) undecided about whether they actually like the technology or not.

Maybe the biggest shock is that younger citizens aged 18-24 are among the
most likely to want to get rid of AI 55% would make it disappear if they could. All older age groups are less inclined to feel so strongly.
Considering only 27% of the youngest age group would not eliminate GenAI, it means that theyre twice as likely to want to get rid of it, even though other studies indicate they could be among its most active users. Latest Videos
From Watch full video here: Younger users are most likely to turn against AI, multiple studies find While autonomous, agentic AI is dominating the
headlines for its ability to act on users behalves, generative AI is still prevalent due to its ability to create content from existing context. Its
uses cases span search engines, smartphones, productivity software, social media platforms, customer service systems and a lot more.

Despite multibillion-dollar investments from companies like OpenAI, Google , Microsoft , Anthropic and Meta to try and embed this technology seamlessly into the apps and services we use daily, its clear that the British public still see it as a hindrance. You may like Brits are the most anxious when it comes to robots and data centers New study finds people are becoming more accepting of AI - just about New study finds most Americans think the pace of AI development is moving too fast

But more than that, the public still worries that AI could replace human jobs as tech giants continue to announce sweeping layoffs years after generative
AI reached mass popularity in late 2022.

As for why younger audiences might be more anti-AI, it could just be that greater exposure creates greater scepticism. 18-24-year-olds are also generally the most likely to use social media platforms, where AI-generated misinformation is frequently disseminated, and theyre also among those
hardest hit by an apparent loss in entry-level job roles. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get
all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. AI trust has fallen since ChatGPT Separately, a 2025 study exploring public perception of AI before and after ChatGPT found a drop in satisfaction, noting higher support for human-only decision-making and lower support for AI-only decision-making.

The proportion of respondents finding AI not acceptable at all increased from 23% to 30%, the authors summarized.

Unease, poor trust and dissatisfaction surrounding AI are actually global themes, with another US-biased study revealing that 50% of Americans feel
more concerned than excited about the tech. Among the cited effects are
poorer creative thinking and relationship forming, but Americans are slightly more optimistic about AIs impacts on problem solving. What to read next These are the biggest risks businesses see around using AI - including the most 'extreme' threats Candidates are hitting back at employers using AI
interviews 'Some of our employees fear job loss, and it turns them away from AI altogether': AI is helping boost productivity for some workers but others still say they're afraid to use it

YouGov also asked UK citizens about their perception of ChatGPT specifically, ahead of the companys IPO. The response was largely positive, with consumer trust in OpenAIs offering generally higher than the average.

Environmental and sustainability concerns are also of great importance when
it comes to public perception several US states, cities and regions have imposed moratoriums on new data center projects in recent months, citing energy, water and land constraints.

Nearly half (48%) of UK adults said they would oppose a new AI data center in their local area, compared with support from just 20% again, a sentiment
that was most apparent among younger citizens, which challenges
preconceptions that 18-24-year-olds are the most pro-AI.

So while tech giants continue to pour billions into the AI race, its clear they still have to win over the exact citizens their products target. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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