Specialized training and education for AI isn't just for students and workers.
As a recent report from the Associated Press shows, AI is affecting every generation alive today, including seniors who didn't even see home computers become commonplace until they were well into adulthood.
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Today's seniors have a choice: learn how to utilize AI, its potential, and its threats like — fake phone calls that sound scarily real — or stay behind and possibly become more at risk of AI-related scams.
Many seniors are choosing the former, leading to the development of specialized AI curricula for seniors across the nation.
As AI continues to develop, many people who work in senior-related environments are realizing that it's the older generation that may be in the greatest need of an AI education. The technology isn't going away, and it has the potential to benefit seniors in several ways, including medical tracking, mental wellness, and self-driving cars to shuttle them to appointments. The National Council on Aging points out several more ways, like aiding voice assistance devices to provide personalized responses supporting telehealth and medical applications.
Many people believe AI can potentially curb loneliness in seniors, something the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls a "serious public health risk."
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If you're interested in AI classes for seniors, Senior Planet, an online resource center from the AARP, offers several free options for members, including AI All Around, AI Image Generators, and Introduction to AI. These classes cover topics such as: what AI is, how ChatGPT works, the limits of AI, how to use AI image generators, how AI can make our lives easier, how to spot AI-generated scams, and what AI might be in the future.
Those who aren't AARP members — the cost is $16 a year — can check local community colleges and public libraries. These organizations often offer free or affordable technology classes for seniors as well, and many of these classes include AI.