Generational theories have gained renewed prominence in recent decades. Beyond the familiar "alphabet generations", new labels such as the "AI generation" have emerged. Drawing on Mannheim’s approach, generational differences can be understood as the outcome of shared socialization experiences, particularly during youth, when norms and worldviews are formed. Alongside family and school, digital media has become central arena of socialization, shaping everyday practices and values. As earlier generations were defined by media consumption patterns, artificial intelligence now appears as a new reference point for generational distinctions. While generational labels can be analytically useful, they require careful contextualization. This presentation contributes to the debate on the “AI generation” by presenting recent empirical data and examining how age interacts with broader social and cultural factors in shaping attitudes toward AI. This presentation is based on recent surveys conducted by the Youth Research Institute, in which we used nationally representative samples of 1,000 Hungarians and 1,000 Americans aged 15 to 39 to analyze their future visions and relationship to digital technology, especially AI. The data show that young Americans and Hungarians consider AI to be a central topic in public discourse, and the majority regularly use large language models. Although AI usage varies by age, age cohorts are not the most significant dividing factor. An important finding is that, while age has some explanatory power, main activity is a more important factor. This correlation indicates that the educational environment and related motivations play a key role in the adoption of AI-based solutions.

Authors:
Levente Székely, George Mason University, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Levente Székely (PhD, Habil.), sociologist. He is currently continuing his research in the United States as a visiting researcher at George Mason University, supported by the Hungary Foundation.

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/szekelylevente/

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