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Sociology & Social Policy

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ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ssp.2026.06.005

Shifting Opportunities: How AI Reshapes the Future of Intergenerational Economic Mobility

Jaewon Lee

Inha University, Incheon 22212, Michuhol-gu, Korea.

*Corresponding author: Jaewon Lee

Published: May 29,2026

Abstract

This perspective paper discusses how artificial intelligence (AI) may reshape intergenerational economic mobility, with particular attention to the different opportunities and barriers experienced by younger and older generations. While AI-driven tools in education, employment, and public services offer new path-ways for economic advancement, access to these benefits is not equally distributed. Younger individuals, often digital natives, are more likely to capitalize on AI innovations, whereas older adults face structural, cognitive, and social barriers that can limit their engagement. At the same time, the review emphasizes the potential of AI to reduce long-standing disparities in upward mobility—especially when policies and technologies are intentionally designed to include lower-income and digitally marginalized populations across all age groups. Drawing on selected studies and policy discussions, this paper highlights digital divides, systemic obstacles, and inclusive strategies that may help AI become a force for reducing inequality rather than reinforcing it. This study underscores the importance of cross-sector collaboration, adaptive learning environments, and equitable digital access in ensuring that AI contributes to greater fairness across generations.

Keywords

AI literacy; Intergenerational economic mobility; Digital divide; Digital inequality; Economic inequality

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Copyright

© 2026 by the author(s).
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license, which permits non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not modified or adapted.
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How to cite this paper

Shifting Opportunities: How AI Reshapes the Future of Intergenerational Economic Mobility

How to cite this paper: Jaewon Lee. (2026). Shifting Opportunities: How AI Reshapes the Future of Intergenerational Economic Mobility. Sociology & Social Policy3(1), 39-43.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ssp.2026.06.005