MW Nearly half of workers 55 and older don't plan on using AI in their jobs. How to make it work for you.

By Alessandra Malito

Workers can learn more about applying AI to their jobs on social-media platforms, such as YouTube and TikTok, one career coach says. AI training might also be offered at a local library or college.

Almost three in 10 people age 55 and over said they use AI at work, and another quarter intend to start within the coming year.

Just about half of individuals 55 and older said they do not plan on using artificial intelligence, but many of those who have embraced the technology say they've had positive personal results.

Almost three in 10 people aged 55 or above said they use AI at work, and another 25% said they aren't yet but plan to be in the next six to 12 months, according to the University of Phoenix 2026 Career Optimism Index. Two-thirds of the current AI users said the technology has increased their confidence at work, and another almost three-quarters of that group said it has improved their work-life balance.

See: AI may be killing some high-tech jobs, but it's also creating others. See who's winning and losing.

Artificial intelligence is becoming more prevalent in the workplace, for tasks such as helping draft reports and emails or assisting in gathering research and data. As companies begin to implement AI, it's important that workers of all ages learn these tools and adapt - whether they're just starting their careers or nearing retirement.

AI does have the potential to steal jobs, as seen in a recent Challenger, Gray & Christmas report that found AI-driven job cuts have risen from almost 55,000 layoffs in 2025 to almost 88,000 in 2026. Not all workers, regardless of age, are keen to accommodate AI. New college graduates booed commencement speakers who spoke of the benefits of artificial intelligence during their graduation ceremonies.

Still, even with the worries of AI taking jobs, the labor market is strong, according to the latest employment report from the federal government. More than 100,000 new jobs were created in May, for the third month in a row, and the overall unemployment rate remained low at 4.3% for the third month in a row. And as AI becomes more prevalent in the workplace, it's important workers adapt, experts said.

Workers who have not embraced AI have reported feeling the negative impacts of resisting the technology, respondents to the University of Phoenix 2026 study said. Of the non-AI users aged 55 and older, 37% said they were worried about losing their jobs compared to 27% of people who were using AI. Non-AI users were also more likely to feel burnout at work than those who used AI, and the non-AI users were also more likely to feel less engaged at work, the report found.

AI might be more present in some industries than others, said Jamie Johnson, a career coach at the University of Phoenix. Restaurant workers or those in trade sectors might not see a benefit to learning AI for the workplace just yet. Many people who resist AI don't know how it might benefit them, Johnson said. "Think about in history and when technology has stepped in," she said, using the auto industry with robotics as an example. "They had to learn how to manage robots, not put the vehicles together. The same questions we're asking now."

Workers interested in AI training can look to local organizations for classes, such as those offered at local libraries and colleges, as well as online through services such as LinkedIn and Coursera. Some of Johnson's clients said they've even learned through social-media platforms, including YouTube and TikTok.

When older workers do incorporate AI into their skillset, they'll be more desirable to employers, Johnson said. "Workers who are 55-plus are in a great place," she said. "Now they can embrace this new institutional knowledge with judgment and experience that can help them bring the best of both worlds."

-Alessandra Malito

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June 05, 2026 14:41 ET (18:41 GMT)

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