Older workers may have the upper hand in AI-powered workplaces, new research suggests, challenging the idea that AI favors younger employees.
The issue started with widespread assumptions that AI adoption hits older workers harder. Older employees are often seen as less willing or able to use AI tools. But fresh findings from the Skills Horizon project, which interviewed global senior leaders, paint a different picture. Experience matters when it comes to AI productivity.
Leaders report older workers excel at judging AI-generated content, a critical skill given AI’s tendency to “hallucinate” or slip up. The CEO of a South American creative agency called out a key gap: 
Senior colleagues are using multiple AIs. If they don’t have the right solution, they re-prompt, iterate, but the juniors are satisfied with the first answer, they copy, paste and think they’re finished. They don’t yet know what they are looking for, and the danger is that they will not learn what to look for if they keep working that way.
Experienced workers know how to frame prompts with clear context: not just “write copy for a sustainability campaign,” but “write conversational social media copy for a sustainable fashion brand targeting eco-conscious millennials, emphasizing zero-waste manufacture and keeping tone authentic.” This skill mirrors years spent briefing teams and managing projects.
Younger workers might be comfortable with tech but may rely too heavily on AI. A recent survey found 72% of US teens have used AI companion apps, with many turning to chatbots for everyday decisions—risking acceptance of AI outputs without critical evaluation.
For those older workers feeling uneasy about AI:
AI can be a form of existential challenge, not only to what you’re doing, but how you view yourself.
A US multinational CEO shared this warning. The advice? Lean into your experience. Use AI like you would junior colleagues: test, refine, demand context.
If you want to start, try major platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, or Google’s Gemini.
Practical AI use is about combining tech with seasoned judgment. In the AI age, spotting what doesn’t fit and asking the right questions might be your biggest strength.
