They Call You "Old" for Not Knowing AI? Show Them Your Story, Your Books, Your Messages, Your Life, and Add Them to Your Technological Revolution on Your Own Terms
Por MSc Víctor Piriz Correa MD, MPH. Seniors International Consulting (SICs)
1. Introduction
This article explores the historical, social, and neurobiological relationship between humans and Artificial Intelligence (AI) through the lens of the dematerialization of work. Just as the Industrial Revolution transformed physical labor, AI replicates and enhances human reasoning, redefining productivity (1).
From Alan Turing’s theoretical proposal in 1950 to today’s autonomous generative models, AI has evolved from a laboratory curiosity to an omnipresent tool reshaping productivity and human interaction. However, at SICs, we observe with concern the social pressure exerted on those who choose not to "ride the wave." AI is not merely software; it is an extension of our intellectual capacity that demands "responsible
consumption." Studying AI invites professional freedom based on mastering the tool to avoid obsolescence in an already normalized world.
2. Milestones and the "Myopia" of Automation
The technological democratization initiated in 2022 with ChatGPT marked a turning point. Nevertheless, blind implementation can cause cognitive "myopia": narrowing focus and ignoring ethical nuances. Concepts such as governance, ethics, transparency, and human oversight are pillars we uphold at SICs to ensure ethical and precise behavior (2).
The AI ecosystem is structured as a pyramid of implementation: from base models (GPT-5, BERT) and personal assistants to specialized applications and personalized developments enabling advanced file analysis (PDF, Excel) and communication automation.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for scientific evidence and technological adaptation, accelerating the adoption of these tools.
3. The Era of Dematerialized On-Site Work: Workoffice and AI
As a physician, I assert that workoffice and AI are two sides of the same coin. While telework emerged as a resilient response to health and energy crises, AI optimizes cognitive effort (3). However, this dematerialization carries a biological cost: social isolation, revealing an "involuntary experiment" that erased boundaries between private and professional life.
Psychological impact: Isolation reduces oxytocin, essential for team cohesion, increasing anxiety and the phenomenon of "accompanied loneliness." Physical impact: Eliminating the commute has caused "mobility atrophy," raising cardiovascular risks and musculoskeletal disorders due to poor ergonomics at home (4).
4. Age Gap and Labor Maturity
Data from Fundación Pfizer (2026) are revealing: the "non-use" of AI drops from 56.5% among 15-19-year-olds to 36.2% in the 25-29 age group (5). This confirms that functional necessity outweighs recreational curiosity. In the senior segment (+45 years), resistance often stems from lack of tailored training rather than incapacity.
At SICs, we promote that labor maturity reduces resistance when AI is perceived as an ally for time-saving and survival in an inflationary market.
An Info Jobs report (2026) indicates that 63% of professionals already use AI tools, with higher adoption among those under 35, reflecting a generational gap (6).
5. Labor Maturity and Reduced Resistance to Technology
Labor maturity reduces resistance to AI for several reasons:
Greater exposure and functional need to improve productivity and competitiveness.
Continuous training, with nearly half of 26-35-year-olds trained in AI.
Shift toward lifelong learning as a key competence.
Recognition of AI’s value in enhancing work and creating new opportunities
However, those over 45 show greater resistance, mainly due to unfamiliarity and lower participation in digital training (7).
6. Strategies to Train Employees Over 45 and Close the Generational Gap
To close this gap, companies should:
Implement personalized and adaptive AI training.
Use immersive simulations and experiential learning.
Foster empathy and intergenerational collaboration.
Train leaders for inclusive leadership and continuous support.
Promote an inclusive corporate culture that combats stereotypes.
7. Impact on Mental and Physical Health from AI Use and Workoffice
Social isolation and the massive shift to telework have transformed human psyche and work structure, with mixed effects on mental and physical health (4):
Positive: Increased autonomy and reduced commuting stress.
Negative: Technostress, digital burnout, prolonged social isolation.
Physical risks: Obesity and musculoskeletal disorders from non-ergonomic workstations.
Opportunities: Time saved can be used for controlled physical activity.
8.SICs Strategies for the Senior Workforce
To close the generational gap without sacrificing health, we propose:
Reverse mentoring: synergy between youthful digital agility and senior strategic vision.
Training in explainability: using AI to validate the expert’s accumulated knowledge.
Digital ergonomics and health: programs to mitigate sedentarism and technostress caused by inability to disconnect.
9.Conclusion
There is no default safe level of technology consumption. AI can mask management problems and alter brain chemistry if clear limits are not set. SICs calls to break free from industry pressure and normalize technological sovereignty.
AI should not be seen merely as software but as an extension of human intellectual capacity that poses a social and labor paradigm shift. It requires responsible consumption based on continuous learning and ethics. Labor maturity drives adoption, but the generational gap persists and must be closed with adapted strategies.
The decision to use AI must be a conscious choice of health and freedom, not an imposition by the tech industry. The challenge of our era is to ensure that dematerialization of work saves fuel and effort without costing our health. AI must be the key to unlocking human potential and allowing us to focus on what makes us unique: strategic reasoning and empathy.
Epilogue
The adoption of AI should be a practice of freedom and well-being, not a capitulation to the industry. Its trajectory and humanity are what give the tool purpose. Allow technology to enhance your reach, but always preserve what defines us: strategic thinking and empathy.
References
Thoms R. Inteligencia Artificial: Aplicaciones para empresas y negocios. Buenos Aires: Centro de eLearning UTN BA; 2024.
Piriz Correa V. La desmaterialización del trabajo: IA y Workoffice en la gestión de riesgos. Montevideo: SICs Consulting; 2026
Microsoft AI Economy Institute. Global AI Adoption Report. Redmond: Microsoft; 2026.
DW Documental. El impacto del aislamiento social y el nuevo orden laboral [Video]. YouTube; 2024.
Fundación Pfizer, Fad Juventud. Inserción laboral juvenil: aspiraciones, preocupaciones y desafíos. Madrid: Fad Juventud; 2026. Disponible
Revista Inteligencia Artificial. El 63% de los profesionales utilizan ya la inteligencia artificial en su trabajo. Rev IA. 2026;12(2):45-52. Disponible en: https://www.revistainteligenciaartificial.com/2026/02/el-63-de-los-profesionales-utilizan-ya-la-inteligencia-artificial-en-su-trabajo/
Informe técnico sobre madurez laboral y resistencia a la IA. Seniors International Consulting (SICs); 2026.