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Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have sparked curiosity and concern across all age groups, including older workers. In this survey fielded among workers age 50-plus, we delve
into the uses and perceptions of AI in the workplace. As older workers increasingly encounter AI-driven technologies in their daily lives, it’s important that we explore the challenges and
opportunities associated with AI among this demographic, including shedding light on how technology can enhance the future of work. OLDER WORKERS WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AI, WHICH IS NOT
SURPRISING GIVEN THEIR LIMITED KNOWLEDGE. In this second wave of exploring AI, there is a small uptick in older workers who say they’ve taken AI training at work (7 percent to 10 percent).
Still, nearly half (47 percent) say they are interested in doing so, a similar rate to 2024 (48 percent). Among workers age 50-plus, just over half (52 percent) say they are knowledgeable
about AI, slightly higher than in 2024 (48 percent). And, when it comes to familiarity with the use of AI in the workplace, familiarity has also increased marginally in the past year — from
39 percent in 2024 to 45 percent in 2025. FINDING INFORMATION IS THE TOP USE OF AI AMONG OLDER WORKERS. About one in seven say they use AI to a great or some extent, which is relatively
stable over the past year (16 percent in 2025; 14 percent in 2024), while the vast majority (77 percent in 2025; 80 percent in 2024) describe their use as not too much or not at all. The
top uses of AI among older workers include finding information (56 percent in 2025; 48 percent in 2024), creating content (text, images, audio, videos) (34 percent in 2025; 25 percent in
2024), and analyzing data or information (29 percent in 2025; 28 percent in 2024). THE IMPACT OF AI ON THE FUTURE OF WORK IS SEEN AS BOTH A THREAT AND AN OPPORTUNITY. Three in 10 older
workers (31 percent in 2025; 30 percent in 2024) see AI as both a threat and an opportunity today — while a similar amount say it is only a threat (27 percent in 2025; 29 percent in 2024)
and about 1 in 5 see it as only an opportunity (18 percent in both years). The most commonly identified workplace opportunities are to enhance productivity in the workplace (35 percent in
2025; 37 percent in 2024), as well as to speed up decision-making processes (34 percent in 2025; 31 percent in 2024) and to make work easier (32 percent in 2025; 30 percent in 2024). About
half (51 percent in 2025; 48 percent in 2024) say that AI will automate repetitive tasks which could be seen as both an opportunity and a threat depending on a worker’s role in their line of
work. The primary threat identified by a majority of older adults pertains to workplace disruption: replacing (61 percent in 2025; 62 percent in 2024) or displacing (59 percent in 2025; 55
percent in 2024) workers. AI is a relatively new and transformational force in the daily lives of workers. Given that one quarter of older workers (24 percent in 2025; 23 percent in 2024)
say they “don’t know” whether AI is a threat or an opportunity in the workplace, more education is needed on how it can impact the future of work and how older workers can interact with AI
to their advantage. AARP highlights five ways that AI tools can help in the job search. 2024 METHODOLOGY Interviews were conducted in two waves: April 11–16, 2024 and May 16–28, 2024 among
919 U.S. adults age 50-plus who were in the labor force (working full-time, part-time, self-employed, or not working but looking for work) in the Foresight 50+ Omnibus. Funded and operated
by NORC at the University of Chicago, Foresight 50+ by AARP and NORC is a probability-based panel designed to be representative of the U.S. household population age 50 or older. Interviews
were conducted online and via phone. All data are weighted by age, sex, education, race/ethnicity, region, and AARP membership to be nationally representative of adults age 50-plus in the
U.S. 2025 METHODOLOGY Interviews were conducted in two waves: February 13–17, 2025 and March 13–27, 2025, among 923 U.S. adults age 50-plus who were in the labor force (working full-time,
part-time, self-employed, or not working but looking for work) in the Foresight 50+ Omnibus. Funded and operated by NORC at the University of Chicago, Foresight 50+ by AARP and NORC is a
probability-based panel designed to be representative of the U.S. household population age 50 or older. Interviews were conducted online and via phone. All data are weighted by age, sex,
education, race/ethnicity, region, and AARP membership to be nationally representative of adults age 50-plus in the U.S. For more information about this survey, please contact Rebecca Perron
at [email protected]. For media inquiries, contact External Relations at [email protected].