Why Gen X and boomers stand to benefit from the use of AI in the workplace

• Older generations have historically been slower to adapt to major technological change.
• But experts say that AI won't cause another digital gap between generations.

Some of the most innovative minds in tech are those with a lifetime of experience. However, we've all also had our patience tested by a parent using just one forefinger to slowly prod at their phone screen.

Pew Research studies have found that the uptake of technology still correlates with age. Younger people tend to adapt more quickly while older generations show greater reluctance to use new platforms or devices.

And if it happened with the internet in the 1990s, smartphones in the 2000s, and social media in the 2010s, we might expect another generational gap to form again with the latest technological transformation.

The rapid acceleration of AI professional tools has been difficult for anyone to keep pace with. Before OpenAI's ChatGPT was released for public use in November, the use of AI in the workplace was gradual and error-prone. But now, from condensing long documents to drafting pitches and generating images, generative AI's ability to automate mundane office tasks is rapidly getting stronger and more accurate. And savvy employees across all industries are finding it can improve their productivity and potentially make them more money.

But what does that mean for older generations in the workforce? And are we headed for an even wider generational tech gap between those harnessing AI-driven advances in the workplace and others still spending time figuring out how to align boxes in PowerPoint?

According to experts, it's not something that we need to worry about. The digital gap just won't exist when it comes to AI simply because it's so easy to use.

"What is so profound about this specific shift with generative AI is just how easy they are to use. This isn't like Microsoft PowerPoint or Excel, which require learning a whole load of formulas or optimization strategies," Henry Adjer, a generative AI and deepfakes expert, said. "That's the same for everyone, regardless of their age."

"If you know it's there, it's just as simple as entering a word into Google, two clicks, and you are generating content. So I think compared to other technologies, I've seen more adoption of this in the older bracket I would've expected," he said.

"For the average white-collar worker who is 50 years old, I think this is going to be one of the most approachable pieces of technology they've ever used," Ben T. Smith IV, who heads up communications, media, and technology at management consultancy firm Kearney, said in a recent conversation with Insider.

The only thing that could limit the uptake of AI is awareness of the tools on offer. With social media driving knowledge and conversation about new possibilities, those not in online communities could risk falling behind.

"This is the fastest adoption of a new technology platform in the history of the human species. Given the speed at which AI tools will revolutionize the way we work, their adoption cannot be avoided and so the lag in uptake will be minimal," he added.

AI can benefit older professionals in a specific way

Experts say that Gen X and boomers are better placed to benefit from the AI revolution than their younger counterparts.

Experience will become even more of an asset to companies as transactional jobs are automated, Donncha Carroll,partner and chief data scientist at consultancy firm Lotis Blue, said. Their skills in leadership, communication, negotiation, relationship management, and change management, will set senior workers apart.

"If anything, adoption of these new tools and techniques will make that experience more visible and, as fewer workers are available, corporations will recognize the value of their knowledge," he added.

AI will actually highlight their talent, Carroll said: "It will allow us to use enterprise data more effectively, identifying where true expertise lies within the portfolio of talent and allowing businesses to better leverage that expertise.

It's Gen Z that should be more concerned

The changes to professional life caused by AI will actually create more issues for younger generations.

Firstly, it's lower-level jobs that could more easily be replaced by machines. Administrative and office roles across all sectors from banking to creative industries have been raised by analysts as most at risk, but coding, image design, and copywriting are expected to follow.

"When businesses crunch the numbers that is potentially who is more at risk here," Adjer said. "Rather than three young researchers, you can hire one person and get them to supercharge efficiencies based on models."

Smith also said that younger professionals should think about how they are going to develop core skills for the rest of their careers when a lot of the thinking and processing starts to be done by machines.

"There are certain skills that you learn from sort of rolling around the data and doing the groundwork. If you think about copywriting and writing those first few pieces, that's how you learn to do the job. But if a lot of that work is automated, does that hurt you as a young professional?"

If you don't know where to begin with AI, Senka Hadzimuratovic, head of brand and communications at AI-powered writing tool Grammarly, offered some advice that she said applies to all ages.

"Look for AI products that solve everyday problems and start small – using generative AI to help you quickly reply to emails, for example, is a huger time-saver," she said.

Correction: August 18, 2023 — Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this story's headline and meta description referred to the wrong demographic. Gen X was the demographic it meant to refer to, not Gen Z.