Marketplace®
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Apr 16, 2026

One way to avoid AI altogether? Retire early

Lauren Weber, a reporter at The Wall Street Journal, chronicles how some older workers are opting to retire early due to AI. But she said they tend to be pro-personal use of the technology.

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One way to avoid AI altogether? Retire early
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The share of older workers is on the decline — about 37% of people age 55 and above are now active in the labor force. About a decade ago, it was around 40%.

The pandemic chased some older workers out, and others can simply afford to retire. Another factor that's causing some to exit? The emergence of artificial intelligence. Learning how to interact with it as a tool, maybe even as a colleague, seems like a headache to some. So, they’re choosing retirement instead.

Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Wall Street Journal reporter Lauren Weber, who’s been covering the phenomenon.

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“The Workers Opting to Retire Instead of Taking On AI” from The Wall Street Journal

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