Jul 4, 2026
Imagine doing your job for 30 years, only to be told that a machine can do it better. Situations like this are a reality for millions of Americans, as AI has arrived in workplaces, whether employees like it or not.
While around half of all adults report that AI makes them concerned rather than excited, around 77% of companies are already using the technology or exploring it for productivity gains according to National University.
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“Many employers are implementing AI use policies because they’ve been told they can’t stay competitive without it,” Nance Schick, a New York State employment attorney and global workplace mediator at Third Ear Conflict Resolution, told MoneyWise.
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Unfortunately, studies show older workers are adopting AI at far lower rates than younger workers, and older workers in AI-exposed jobs are more likely to find themselves unemployed than in the past — especially in information-economy jobs that were once associated with career longevity.
Some older workers may also choose to retire early, rather than be forced to embrace an unfamiliar technology.
Let’s pretend, for example, that Bill has done payroll and accounting for his company for 30 years but is now being told he must use AI to complete his work tasks. He doesn’t want to make the change and is considering retiring instead. But is that a good idea?
Bill may have to embrace AI if he wants to stay at his job
Unfortunately, if Bill’s employer wants him to start using AI, Bill won’t have much choice but to comply.
“Employers generally have the ability to introduce new technologies, including AI, as part of how work gets done,” Jared Pope, benefits and employment law attorney and CEO of Work Shield, told MoneyWise. “There’s no law that says an employee is exempt from adapting to new tools simply because they have performed the job the same way for decades.”
Christine Hintze, an employment attorney at Phillips & Associates, also told MoneyWise that employers can require their workers to learn new technologies, as long as the company doesn’t violate any employment laws or contracts that are in place.
So, unless Bill has an employment contract that guarantees him the right to do his job without the use of AI, or the company is violating age discrimination laws by treating older workers differently because of perceptions that they aren’t good at AI, Bill must follow his employer’s AI adoption plan — and probably do so enthusiastically — if he wants to keep his job.
“AI adoption has the potential to disadvantage anyone who is not an early, enthusiastic, self-directed adopter,” said Ben Hawkes, a business psychologist and founder of TAPnet, a network of talent and AI leaders from over 60 Fortune 500 companies.
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Should Bill agree to use AI or retire early instead?
Since Bill’s company can make him use AI, he has a tough choice to make. But before he rushes into it, he should take a close look at what his objections are.
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For example, Bill may be worried that AI will replace him, but that fear may be overblown. “If you are an experienced employee, it’s likely that your employer will still need you, even if you are using AI to perform some of your job duties, to ensure that the AI is functioning properly,” Hintze said.
Bill could also look for ways to work with his employer to find a solution that works for both of them. “Instead of taking a strong anti-AI stance, ask your employer what it is trying to accomplish through the use of AI,” Schick advised. “With 30 years of experience, you might be able to help them achieve it more effectively.”
Being open and willing to try could be a lot better for Bill than allowing his employer’s new policy to force him into retirement before he’d otherwise be ready. And, in fact, before he even considers quitting, he must take a hard look at his finances.
If he has plenty of money to live on comfortably, a plan for covering health insurance without employment, and he’s confident that his retirement won’t derail his future financial security, he could just decide to opt out of the AI revolution and quit. His years of hard work and preparing for retirement would give him that option.
But if that’s not the case, Bill may have to dig in and learn the new tool so he can stay at his workplace until he’s actually prepared to support himself with no paycheck. Refusal to do so could be something he regrets if he spends the rest of his life struggling financially because he was mad about some new technology.
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Christy Bieber has 15 years of experience as a personal finance and legal writer. She has written for many publications including Forbes, Kilplinger, CNN, WSJ, Credit Karma, Insurify and more.
