Why older workers are essential to the successful implementation of AI in the workplace.

• Although it's commonly believed that older workers struggle to adapt to new technology, AI offers distinct benefits to this demographic.
• A recent report from Preply found that 30% of senior-level employees are concerned about being fired due to a lack of AI skills.
• A person with a deeper comprehension of business is better equipped to utilize and evaluate inputs and outputs based on abilities and expertise that AI has not yet fully developed.

The concern about AI replacing jobs has mainly originated from junior workers, with some experts suggesting that AI is almost as good as a good intern. This is due to the belief that AI benefits workers with more task-based responsibilities, while higher-level workers have broader job responsibilities. Additionally, this population has more time left in the workforce, and therefore, more to lose as technology advances over time.

Is it realistic for 30% of senior-level employees to fear being fired due to a lack of AI skills, as reported by online tutoring company Preply?

If there is a skills gap among eligible retirees, some may choose to retire or find new work, according to Steve Preston, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. However, not all senior positions fit this description, and companies do not want their employees to quit.

"Losing institutional and customer knowledge is one of the most devastating forms of employee attrition, according to Preston. It's crucial to retain those individuals and help them be more productive."

Experienced employees can master AI insights

Although it is commonly believed that older workers struggle to adapt to new technology, Preston believes that these workers have a unique advantage when it comes to using AI. He believes that older workers will be better able to leverage AI to gain insights, both in terms of querying AI more effectively and in terms of applying judgment to the results of AI-supported work.

Someone with a more advanced understanding of the business is better equipped to apply inputs and evaluate outputs using knowledge and abilities that AI has not yet fully developed.

Cisco's executive vice president and general manager of security and collaboration, Jeetu Patel, believes that AI is not yet capable of replacing entire, complex jobs but rather tasks. He predicts that AI will eventually become proficient in doing jobs, but the timeframe for this is uncertain.

Patel predicts that the next few years will focus on augmentation rather than displacement or replacement for the senior-level workforce, as long as these workers are willing to adapt their skills to an AI-driven workplace.

A report from TalentLMS predicts that 57% of industry experts anticipate an increase in demand for soft skills as technology continues to progress.

As Nikhil Arora, CEO of Epignosis (parent company of TalentLMS), stated, "Companies are made up of employees, who are all human beings, and they require human touch and motivation. This is something senior management must consider in today's modern context as roles within the employment landscape evolve on a daily basis."

Reverse mentoring need is high

Another strategy for higher-level workers to consider, according to Arora, is reverse mentoring, a process in which senior management seeks the perspective of less experienced employees. "Many young people who are growing up on AI find it second nature, while senior leaders may now be learning AI. It's almost the opposite," Arora said. He believes in having two sets of mentors: one who is more seasoned and one who is much younger, as they are closer to the disruptive technologies and how the new age customers will behave.

By leveraging the AI proficiency of younger workers, organizations can implement seniority-agnostic mentorship to accelerate innovation at a faster pace. Despite 47% of employees not utilizing AI skills in their jobs, according to the 2024 State of Upskilling and Reskilling Report from TalentLMS and Workable, half agree that their work would benefit from it. Some companies are investing in structured training programs for their workforce and clients, such as Goodwill receiving a grant from Google's $75 million AI Opportunity Fund to expand AI training in their communities.

Generative AI and automated hours

Nearly a third of hours worked in the U.S. could be automated by generative AI, potentially changing the way many business professionals do their work. Companies like IBM and Duolingo are vocal about replacing some humans with AI.

Offloading the wrong individuals in the race to AI could lead to unforeseen consequences, such as the loss of institutional knowledge that can effectively operate in intricate, interpersonal settings.

"Instead of dismissing older workers as being unable to adapt to new technology, we should utilize AI to enhance their job opportunities in the future."