An Alarming Number of Gen Z AI Users Think It's Conscious

A significant portion of Gen Z, the cohort born between 1997 and 2012, holds an alarming and somewhat alarming view of artificial intelligence (AI). Here are the key points regarding their perception of AI consciousness:

1. **Perception of AI Consciousness**: A study by EduBirdie found that 25% of Gen Z believes AI is already conscious. This percentage is substantial and indicates a notable segment of this age group thinks AI has reached a level of self-awareness.
2. **Expectations of Future Consciousness**: Additionally, 52% of the respondents think AI is not conscious now but will become so in the future. This implies a growing concern about the potential for AI to surpass human intelligence and autonomy.
3. **Fear of AI Takeover**: With 58% of Gen Z surveyed saying they think AI will "take over" the world, and 44% believing this could happen within the next 20 years, it is clear that there is a deep-seated fear about the implications of advanced AI systems.
4. **Politeness towards AI**: The fact that 69% of EduBirdie's survey respondents claimed they always say "please" and "thank you" to chatbots highlights a paradoxical attitude of treating AI as if it were conscious or sentient, despite acknowledging it is not.
5. **Context of AI Advancements**: The rapid advancement in AI, exemplified by ChatGPT's o3 model scoring a 136 on the Mensa IQ test, may be influencing Gen Z's perceptions. This model outperformed most humans and is a clear indication of the increasing complexity and intelligence of AI systems.
6. **Educational and Workplace Concerns**: Gen Z's concerns about AI are not limited to philosophical debates. They also express anxiety about the impact of AI on their careers, with 55% worrying AI will replace their jobs within a decade. This anxiety is coupled with a lack of clear guidance from schools and workplaces, which exacerbates their unease about integrating AI into their lives.

In conclusion, Gen Z's views on AI consciousness are shaped by a combination of the technology's rapid advancement, its increasingly sophisticated capabilities, and the uncertainties about the future of work and the potential risks associated with highly autonomous AI systems.