Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
Spring 5-6-2026
Faculty Advisor(s)
Dr. Ann Gordon
Abstract
The growing panic surrounding AI taking over the workforce is strong in a distinct group of demographics, in contrast to the fear of computers taking over the workforce that was seen in previous generations. This suggests that AI developments have sparked a wave of fear that is unlike the fear of tech developments in the past. I have discovered that this fear is prevalent across several demographics: age, employment, and income. By cross-analyzing through the 2017 and 2025 fear surveys, I discovered that fear of AI is more prevalent in younger generations and is more threatening to students entering the workforce than to those already employed. It reveals that the present fear of AI is less centered around job displacement and is more present in young professionals who will need to pursue the job market in the future. The data sets also reveal that people of lower income levels are much more afraid of AI taking over than they were of computers, meaning that there is more fear of instability, which may speak to a rise in job insecurity. The purpose of this study is to identify the contrast between those who were afraid of technological developments in the past and those who are now. Fear of computers taking over the workforce was associated with job displacement in people already settled into their careers, whereas fear of AI taking over is more of a threat to future workers. AI is a growing industry, but this new wave of fear raises the question of how it will transform the job market for low-income individuals and future generations.
Recommended Citation
Hepburn, Amaya V., "AI is taking over!: A new generation of unemployment fears" (2026). Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters. 814.
https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/cusrd_abstracts/814
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Comments
Presented at the Spring 2026 Student Scholar Symposium at Chapman University.