Artificial Intelligence is making old guys obsolete

Artificial Intelligence is making old guys obsolete

Artificial Intelligence is making old guys obsolete

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/nolan-finley/2026/01/03/finley-artificial-intelligence-is-making-old-guys-obsolete/87914358007/

Publish Date: 2026-01-03 20:02:00

Source Domain: www.detroitnews.com

  • The decline of traditional in-person mentorship: The passage notes a shift in how practical knowledge is transmitted from older generations to younger ones, specifically highlighting how Google and YouTube have reduced the role of older men as advisors and teachers.

  • The impact of AI on DIY skills: The article highlights how AI, along with online communities and instructional videos on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, has made much of the hands-on knowledge originally acquired through years of practical experience readily accessible online.

  • The resurgence of the DIY movement: Despite the availability of online skills, there is an observed resurgence in the DIY movement driven by personal interests in home repair and crafting, as well as an ideology favoring self-reliance and individual action.

  • The overshadowing of personal expertise by online platforms: Even the DIY revival, which might have benefited older men with years of hands-on experience, is being overshadowed by online platforms where new skills can be learned quickly and efficiently.

  • The loss of personal bonding and quality time: The hands-on mentoring that once happened in garages and barns is gradually fading, leading to less personal connection and time spent together between generations.

  • The obsolescence of traditional knowledge: Despite the continued practical skill and tacit knowledge held by older men, AI and online tutorials have rendered much of this traditional knowledge obsolete, diminishing the role of experienced elders in passing down practical skills.

  • The role of personal tools: Although AI has rendered much traditional knowledge irrelevant, older men still retain some utility, such as physical strength and the ability to carry bulky materials, roles that AI and online tutorials cannot yet replicate.

  • The smartphone as a pivotal modern tool: The article emphasizes the smartphone as a crucial tool for modern DIY endeavors, replacing the need for personal guidance and demonstrating a shift in how practical knowledge is accessed today.