I'm 82 and just cofounded a tech startup. I have $57 saved and $15,000 in debt, but opportunities have always shown up in my life.

Cassidy Araiza for Business Insider

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Luis Bautista, 82, who works as a personal life coach and tech startup cofounder. Bautista, who lives in Tucson, Arizona, said he self-studied AI, such as prompt engineering. He works because he has to financially, though he said that even if money weren't tight, he wouldn't retire. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.