Gen X ‘more open’ to workplace AI than younger co-workers, finds report

A recent Glassdoor report reveals that employees aged 40 and above are more accepting of workplace artificial intelligence (AI) compared to their younger counterparts. The research, based on employee reviews, found that while 81% of Glassdoor reviews were positive in 2019, the sentiment has shifted to 43% positive, 4% mixed, and 53% negative in 2026.

Older employees, particularly those in senior level positions, view AI as an opportunity creator. However, younger generations, such as Gen Z and Millennials, are more wary of AI, expressing concerns that its rise coincides with a decline in entry-level job opportunities. Only 33% of Gen Z and 40% of Millennials spoke positively about AI, compared to nearly 50% of Gen X.

Women across all age groups were found to be more critical of AI than men. Common fears among employees include AI replacement (20%), excessive use of AI tools (14%), increased focus on AI at the expense of core business activities (13%), added surveillance (10%), and unrealistic expectations about AI gains (8%).

The report also highlights the industry-wise reaction to AI. Workers in technology are the most likely to mention AI in their reviews, with roughly equal numbers of negative and positive comments. Media and communication companies, while also mentioning AI, have more negative comments. In financial services, 65% of comments about AI were negative. The arts, entertainment, and recreation sector had the highest criticism, with nearly 90% of employees expressing dissatisfaction with their employers' use of AI.

Glassdoor senior economist Chris Martin noted that "Workers have a lot to say about AI and their opinions are increasingly becoming critical. It's not just about the fear of being replaced by AI, workers resent the push to incorporate AI into products, to use tools internally and when employers use AI to monitor or communicate with them."

While a significant portion of workers approve of their companies' AI strategies, these workers appreciate smart AI implementations and the support to use tools, and are more likely to stay with their current employers. The long-term impacts of AI on work remain uncertain, but for now, workers are divided in their attitudes towards AI.