Gen X Retirement Crisis? How AI Partnership Changes Everything

"The robots aren't coming for your job. They're coming for the people who won't learn how to work with robots."

As a 52-year-old who's reinvented his career multiple times, I've watched fellow Gen Xers react to AI in two distinct ways:

1. Burying their heads in the sand.

2. Panic about becoming obsolete.

Both approaches are dead ends.

Today, I'm sharing a mindset shift that's helping me (and can help you) turn AI from a threat into your secret weapon – no tech background required.

So if you've been wondering how to navigate this AI stuff and stay relevant while still paying the mortgage, keep reading. I've had some major AI lightbulb moments this week that could change everything about how you approach the future of work.

Let’s do this…

“AI Amplifies Imagination, It Doesn't Replace It"

I was reading Perry Marshall's monthly newsletter when this line hit me:

"Most people do not see AI as a way to enhance themselves, but as a way to replace themselves."

Damn! He nailed it.

The key difference between those who'll thrive with AI and those who'll just get by (or fall behind) isn't technical knowledge – it's mindset. We need to view AI as a tool that "amplifies our imagination rather than replaces it."

Again... DAMN!

Marshall suggests starting your prompts like this:

"Let's explore how we might accomplish this task. Here are my initial ideas..."

I took this approach for a test drive (more on those interesting results in a minute), but first, I need to share what sent me down this rabbit hole in the first place.

Becoming Irrelevant (Or Not)

Maybe we won't need to choose whether we retire or not. Some experts believe AI will retire all of us.

David Shapiro talks about something called "post-labor economics" that's worth paying attention to. Everything we grew up understanding about work and retirement is changing dramatically.

Two quotes from a recent Shapiro article hit me hard:

1. "Find something to give a shit about. You need a mission."

2. "Meaning lives in the space between people."

What do we do when there's nothing to do?

Here’s the article…

Read more about becoming irrelevant here

But, for now we need to be on the ball…

The Future Is Hybrid (And Already Here)

I'd argue that the difference between staying relevant or, as my dad used to say, "sucking hind tit" comes down to embracing a hybrid approach to learning and working.

Here's an interesting example of a school combining AI with human teachers: This School Will Have Artificial Intelligence Teach Kids—With Some Human Help

The AI handles lesson delivery at the student's pace, while human teachers (or I’ll throw in coaches) "serve as motivators and emotional support." This is exactly the approach we need to take in our work lives too.

You can start doing this right now by asking ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, etc to teach you something you’re interested in. And if you need the motivation and emotional support piece, I just might know a guy (me).

Bridging The Gap

I was all over everything David wrote in that article. I'm an optimist like he is about this future where AI handles the mundane, freeing us to be more human.

But one thing kept swirling in the back of my head:

This is all fine and good, BUT until this utopia arrives, we still have bills to pay.

How do we bridge the gap?

How do we start setting ourselves up for the future now, while still keeping the lights on?

This is the question I asked ChatGPT.

The answer was pretty interesting.

Check it out.

ChatGPT Discussion - Bridging The AI Work Discussion

Its an interesting read and will likely a be a topic of discussion on future post.

Music Of The Week

I am a big sucker for really cool acoustic guitar covers. Today's song delivers that in spades.

“Stayin' Alive (Acoustic Cover)” by Liberty n’ Justin with Kip Winger

First, you might remember the song from the movie Saturday Night Fever.

Second, you might remember Kip Winger from the band "Winger."

Remember their song "Seventeen?" It's unlistenable for a grown man to listen to (very creepy) but I needed to give you context.

Another cool side note on Kip that us self-reinventioners can appreciate.

He went back to school to study music and has composed 30-minute classical music pieces for orchestras and ballets. He was even nominated for a Grammy in the Best Classical Contemporary Composition category.

Hair metal star to classical composer. Who woulda thunk?!

Anyway, back to the song.

In my opinion, Kip CRUSHES this song. Great vocals.

Oh and make sure you listen with headphones or in your car turned up.

The Mission

So to wrap it up, lets return to the two quotes from David’s article:

1. "Find something to give a shit about. You need a mission."

2. "Meaning lives in the space between people."

My mission on Redefining Retirement - what I give a shit about - is helping you navigate this transition period where we need to both adapt to AI and pay the mortgage

And second, you guys are exactly the people I'm looking find meaning in those spaces with—Gen Xers who've seen enough technological change to be adaptable.

We're positioned perfectly for this moment. We've already adapted to technology multiple times—but this time we can do it with purpose, not panic.

Have a good one,

Corey