The AI policy craze
There’s a new divide within Gen Z, and it could impact the midterms
One of my favorite things about doing listening sessions with Gen Z is the dialogue it sparks between our participants. At a time when nearly half of young people say they stay away from talking about politics because they’re not sure how others will react, I take pride in the fact that we bring together young Americans from a range of backgrounds and encourage them to share their points of view — on politics, culture, and life.
We know young people are passionate about a range of issues, and it’s fun to watch them flesh out their beliefs in-real-time, sharing how they feel, in a room full of their peers, many of whom they’ve never met before and may never see again.
For the past few years, our groups have focused most on gender dynamics, social media habits, economic concerns, job prospects (or the lack thereof). But most recently, they’ve emphasized the need for AI policy and regulation.
In a recent listening session, an 18-year-old young man from Virginia and a 19-year-old young woman from New York got into a spirited back and forth about the socioeconomic impact of AI data centers and the ethics of ceding original thought to a chatbot.
“The AI data centers used to run these programs are actively devastating natural water reservoirs and taking away clean drinking water from towns across the country,” said the 19-year-old woman.
“I actually think there’s a little too much like fear around AI,” said the 18-year-old man. “The county I live in, I think it’s the most populated data center county in the world. They call it ‘data center alley.’ So I literally live, like my house is surrounded by data centers. I hear a lot of people talking about all the adverse effects especially when it comes to, ‘Oh people are paying much higher energy bills because of all this kind of stuff.’ And I don’t really find that to be true.”
The proof is in the pudding: AI policy is quickly becoming a hot-button issue, one voters expect candidates to address in 2026 and beyond. Young people are already seeing AI impact their education, work, and communities, and expect politicians to take a clear stance on what’s shaping up to be a defining challenge for their generation. If our research is any indication, they’ll be leading that charge.
Last month, we spoke with nearly 50 Gen Zers ages 16 to 26 to get a sense of how they feel about culture, tech, and politics heading into 2026. So far, we’ve featured what we heard when it comes to party politics (they want Democrats and Republicans to move beyond the Trump-era), gender dynamics (they’re sick and tired of the gender war), and a reimagined adulthood (they’re rejecting 9-5 jobs, traditional milestones like marriage, and political correctness).
This is part four: The AI policy craze.
🔑 What You’ll Unlock: Highlights from this edition
Why Gen Z worries AI is hurting the planet and their communities
The urgent call from young people for smarter AI laws and leadership
My analysis on how young Americans want to ride the AI wave without getting left behind