Young Americans have sharply turned against the executives leading major AI firms, with a striking majority expressing distrust in a new survey. None of the nine CEOs questioned earned the confidence of more than a third of respondents aged 18 to 34, signaling a significant shift from the younger generation’s once enthusiastic embrace of tech leaders.
The survey, conducted by CNBC’s Generation Labs, asked over 1,000 young adults to evaluate trustworthiness and responsibility concerning AI development. Palantir’s CEO Alex Karp faced the harshest judgment, with more than 80 percent of participants stating they did not trust him. Microsoft’s Satya Nadella ranked highest, yet only about one-third of respondents conveyed trust in his leadership. Other prominent figures like Peter Thiel, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Sam Altman also received overwhelming distrust ratings nearing or exceeding 70 percent.
This widespread skepticism reflects broader concerns about the tech sector’s influence on privacy, democratic processes, and the erosion of once-valued digital platforms. While AI technology itself remains contentious—45 percent of surveyed young adults anticipate its negative effects on their careers—leaders behind these innovations attract even stronger criticism. Participants voiced support for increased government regulation, with 40 percent endorsing regulatory measures on AI development.
Interestingly, infrastructure supporting AI, such as data centers, received more moderate disapproval. Six in ten respondents advocated for slowing the aggressive expansion of data centers, yet these concerns pale compared to the distrust aimed at the CEOs driving AI agendas. This dynamic illustrates that while AI and its hardware provoke wariness, the executives profiting from and shaping these technologies bear the brunt of young Americans’ discontent.