- 3 min read
AI can pull every recipe. But it can’t taste.
AI can already recommend recipes, adjust for specific oven models, and even suggest wine pairings. We’re seeing AI chefs emerge every day.
But here’s what it still can’t do: know when to add “just a pinch.” It doesn’t smell the room. It doesn’t remember a grandparent’s trick for fixing a bland soup. It can’t taste and it can’t feel.
That gap? It’s everything.
It’s also why the connection between AI and retirement is more urgent—and more powerful—than most people realize.
When a chef retires, a cookbook doesn’t cut it
Think of the best cook you know. Not the one with a show—the one who taught others, fixed failures, and saved meals with instinct.
Now imagine they retire, and all that’s left are messy notes, some equipment, and memories.
That’s what happens with most retirees.
We celebrate the roles they played, but we ignore their judgment. Their emotional intelligence.
The part of them that can’t be Googled.
Boomers are walking, talking training data.
But unless someone asks, it disappears.
AI can’t learn what we don’t preserve.
The real legacy isn’t a résumé—it’s what’s known without realizing
For those who support older adults—coaches, advisors, family members—this is where to begin:
Ask better questions.
Not just: What did you do for work?
But:
What do people always ask you for help with?
What do you know now that took decades to figure out?
What have you sensed in a room that changed the outcome?
This isn’t just legacy work.
Purpose doesn’t have to take years to find
One hard truth: most people don’t “find” purpose in retirement. They search for it endlessly and hope it shows up.
That’s costly—emotionally and financially.
Traditionally, purpose discovery required months of coaching, assessments, or introspection. Now, AI tools can support individuals by helping them reflect in real time, ask better questions, and shape their next chapter.
It’s not therapy. It’s not a silver bullet. But it is accessible, private, and scalable.
No advanced tech skills required—just curiosity and self-awareness.
AI is not replacing older generations—it’s waiting to be trained by them
The opportunity is no longer about “keeping up” with AI. It’s about guiding it.
We need the kind of wisdom that only comes from time. The nuance that can’t be taught in prompts. The lived experience that’s never been digitized—but should be.
Training AI with real-world human insight benefits everyone.
It also keeps older adults sharp, connected, and actively contributing—on their own terms.
What to do with this
👉 For those nearing retirement: start documenting what you know, not just what you’ve done.
👉 For professionals supporting retirees: ask better questions—and create ways to preserve the answers.
👉 For those building with AI: remember, the most valuable training data may not be online—it’s retiring.
A final word to Boomers
This generation isn’t “done.” It’s simply needed in a new way.
Leaders, builders, problem-solvers, mentors—those insights shaped lives and organizations. Now, they can help shape the future of how technology understands humanity.
And it starts with answering a few meaningful questions.
To learn more or to connect with our team, email grace@myplankeeper.com or submit a message here .
