Younger Americans are among the most frequent users of artificial intelligence tools, but they are also the generation most likely to express concerns about the technology's growing influence and environmental impact, according to a new report released by Shift Technologies Inc.
The Victoria-based browser company said its report, AI Usage in America: A Generational Divide, is based on a survey of more than 1,400 U.S. adults and examines how attitudes toward artificial intelligence differ across age groups. The findings suggest AI adoption varies by generation, with younger users embracing the technology while also reporting reservations about its role in everyday life.
According to the survey, 47 per cent of respondents aged 18 to 24 said they now use AI tools first for search. At the same time, 34 per cent of that age group said AI is already "far too dominant," while 67 per cent said they are concerned about the technology's environmental and energy costs.
"Younger users are embracing AI, but they are also the most aware of its tradeoffs. At the same time, older adults risk being left behind if AI is designed only for power users," said Michael Foucher, vice-president of product and customer success at Shift. "This data is a call to action for the industry to build AI experiences that are accessible, transparent, and genuinely optional."
The report also found that the heaviest daily AI users were not the youngest respondents. Instead, 43 per cent of adults aged 25 to 34 reported using AI every day, compared with 32 per cent of respondents overall.
Among respondents aged 35 to 54, 46 per cent said they plan to increase their use of AI over the coming year, a finding the company said points to potential growth in adoption among middle-aged adults.
The survey also identified lower levels of AI use among older Americans. Forty per cent of respondents aged 65 and older said they never use AI, with many citing a lack of knowledge about how to begin using the technology.
Shift said the findings reflect differing levels of adoption and comfort with AI rather than a simple divide between younger and older users.
The company also said 58 per cent of Americans overall continue to use traditional search engines before turning to AI tools, despite growing interest in AI-powered search among younger adults.
Foucher said survey respondents indicated they want greater choice over when and how artificial intelligence is incorporated into the online tools they use.
"People do not want AI forced into every corner of their digital lives," added Foucher. "They want AI that is useful, easy to understand and optional. That is especially important as the browser becomes one of the main places where search, productivity and AI are starting to come together."
Shift said the report comes as AI becomes more widely integrated into browsers and other digital tools used for search and productivity.
The report is based on a survey of 1,448 U.S. adults conducted in February 2026. Shift said the data was weighted to be nationally representative by annual income, ethnicity, age, gender and region.
Shift develops a customizable web browser designed to combine applications, accounts and digital tools into a single workspace. The company said it has introduced AI features into its browser while allowing users to control how and when those features are used. Shift is part of the Redbrick portfolio of companies.owerwererrle