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

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

Nearly half of British adults would eliminate generative AI entirely

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Nearly half of British adults would eliminate generative AI entirely if they had the choice

18-24-year-olds most likely to eliminate Gen AI and block new data center projects

Public sentiment around AI has actually fallen since Chat GPT was launched

New You Gov 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 Gen AI, it means that they’re twice as likely to want to get rid of it, even though other studies indicate they could be among its most active users.

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 Open AI, Google, Microsoft, Anthropic and Meta to try and embed this technology seamlessly into the apps and services we use daily, it’s clear that the British public still see it as a hindrance.

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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 they’re also among those hardest hit by an apparent loss in entry-level job roles.

Separately, a 2025 study exploring public perception of AI before and after Chat GPT 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 AI’s impacts on problem solving.

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You Gov also asked UK citizens about their perception of Chat GPT specifically, ahead of the company’s IPO. The response was largely positive, with consumer trust in Open AI’s 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, it’s clear they still have to win over the exact citizens their products target.

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With several years’ experience freelancing in tech and automotive circles, Craig’s specific interests lie in technology that is designed to better our lives, including AI and ML, productivity aids, and smart fitness. He is also passionate about cars and the decarbonisation of personal transportation. As an avid bargain-hunter, you can be sure that any deal Craig finds is top value!

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