- Six practical ways AI can make daily life easier — with exact words to use
- How to use AI to understand medical information without getting scared or confused
- The AI-powered scams targeting seniors right now — and exactly how to spot them
- How to share this guide with a family member who could benefit from it
A different kind of technology guide
Most technology guides aimed at seniors are condescending. They assume you don't know what a smartphone is, or that you need to be walked through creating a password one letter at a time. This isn't that kind of guide.
You've lived through more technological change than almost any generation in history — from black-and-white television to the internet to smartphones. You know how to learn new things. What you need is an honest answer to a reasonable question: Is this AI thing actually useful for me, or is it just something my grandchildren are excited about?
The answer, in our experience, is that AI is genuinely useful for a handful of specific things that matter a lot to many older adults. Not everything. Not magic. But real, practical help with real daily situations.
You don't need to understand how AI works to benefit from it — any more than you need to understand how a car engine works to drive one.
Understanding health information without the overwhelm
This is where many older adults find AI most immediately valuable. After a doctor's appointment, you often walk out with a lot of information — new medications, test results, instructions, diagnoses — and not enough time to process all of it before the appointment ends.
AI is remarkably good at translating medical language into plain English. You can paste in discharge instructions, a diagnosis, or a medication name and ask for a clear explanation. The key is framing the question as a request to understand, not a request to diagnose.
Staying connected and writing with confidence
Staying in touch with family and friends matters enormously — for joy, for mental health, and for feeling part of the world. AI can help with the writing parts of that connection that sometimes feel difficult.
Getting answers without judgment
One thing older adults often mention when they discover AI is how much they appreciate being able to ask questions without feeling embarrassed. There's no impatience, no eye-rolling, no "you should already know this." You can ask the same question five different ways until it makes sense, and the response is always patient and clear.
Protecting yourself from AI-powered scams
This section is the most important one in the article. AI is genuinely useful — but it's also being used by criminals in new ways that specifically target older adults. Knowing what to watch for is the best protection.
- Voice cloning calls. Criminals use AI to clone a grandchild's or family member's voice from social media videos, then call claiming to be in an emergency — arrested, in an accident, in a hospital — and asking for money wired immediately. The voice can sound exactly like your loved one. If you receive a call like this, hang up and call your family member directly on their known number before doing anything.
- AI-written phishing emails. Scam emails used to be easy to spot because of spelling errors and awkward phrasing. AI has fixed that. Fraudulent emails from "your bank," "Medicare," or "Social Security" now read perfectly. Never click a link in an email — always go directly to the website by typing the address yourself.
- Fake AI assistants offering help. Pop-up windows or phone calls offering to "set up AI" on your computer for a fee, or warning that your computer has a virus that AI can fix. Hang up or close the window. Call a trusted family member before taking any action.
- Romantic scams using AI personas. AI can now sustain long online relationships — generating messages and even video calls with fake personas — designed to build trust and eventually ask for money. Be very cautious about any online relationship where the person has never met you in person and eventually asks for money.
Everyday convenience you might not have considered
- "I just got home from a doctor's appointment and have some questions about what I was told. Can I describe it to you and get your help understanding it?"
- "I need to write a [birthday / sympathy / thank-you] note to [person]. Here's a bit about them and the situation: [describe]. Help me write something warm and genuine."
- "I received something in the mail / a phone call / an email about [topic] and I'm not sure if it's legitimate. Can I describe it to you and get your honest opinion?"