Senior Moments: Old dogs learning new tricks with AI

Over the past two and a half years, I've written about the many changes baby boomers have faced. This column is about accepting change and using it to our advantage. Old dogs can learn new tricks, and most of us older adults are still smart enough to do just that — with the right attitude. Artificial intelligence is already making or influencing decisions all around us, so it's important to understand where it's being used — and to remember that it can sometimes be wrong. It may feel as though AI is taking over the world without asking our permission. But whether we like it or not, it has become part of daily life, and in many ways, it makes things easier. So let's move AI out of the futuristic world of the movies and look at some of the ways it is already working quietly behind the scenes: ADVERTISEMENT Your credit card company detects an unusual purchase. Your bank decides whether a transaction looks suspicious. Facebook decides what appears in your news feed. Netflix recommends a movie. Your email filters spam. Your phone recognizes your face. Google Maps predicts traffic. An online store recommends something you might buy. A company screens job applications. An insurance company analyzes information. A security camera identifies unusual activity. At the same time, AI can offer real benefits for seniors. Sometimes the best way to begin is simply to 'speak up,' literally. Say 'Alexa,' 'Siri,' or 'Google,' followed by a question, and it can help you: Stay independent longer by helping with everyday tasks, such as making lists, creating reminders and planning errands. Make technology less frustrating. Simply ask verbally, 'Explain this to me in simple terms,' and AI will walk you through using an app, a computer, or online service step by step. Help with health information. AI can explain medical terminology or make complicated written information easier to understand. It should not replace a doctor or pharmacist, but it can be a useful interpreter. Alleviate loneliness and isolation. AI can provide conversation, help you explore your interests, brainstorm ideas, or simply give you someone to talk with when you're alone, often with a sense of humor. It doesn't replace human relationships, but it can provide companionship and stimulation. Makes writing easier. If you are bad with grammar or spelling, and need to write a letter or email, AI can help you with it all — structure, grammar, and editing, all while keeping your own voice. The point is that AI does not have to feel mysterious or complicated. You can ask a question in ordinary language, and if the answer is not helpful, ask it another way. Technology can also work for privacy through encryption, stronger privacy controls, data minimization, and systems designed not to keep unnecessary information. For that, of course, you may need to hire—or charm—a technology expert. Like any powerful tool, AI can be used for good or harm. As citizens, we still have a say in how our country decides to use it. Many people also worry that AI can take information they worked hard to create or collect and share it without proper credit or payment. If AI feels invasive or threatens your privacy, that concern is valid. That brings us to a larger question: how much privacy should we require technology to respect? Privacy is not simply a technology problem. It is also a political and legal choice. Americans can push for stronger privacy protections through legislation, court decisions, regulations, corporate policies and individual choices. Even if you value privacy, it helps to remember how much information is already collected by the digital services we use every day, but privacy is one area where we should not blindly trust the technology — or the companies using it. Phones, websites, retailers, social media platforms, loyalty programs, smart televisions, credit card companies, and other services may already collect considerable information about our activities Be cautious about giving apps access to your microphone, camera, contacts, location, photographs, or other personal information. Most importantly, don't give AI your Social Security number, passwords, banking information, or anything else you would not want exposed. Privacy is not the only reason to be careful. We also should not automatically trust AI. It can be extremely useful, but it can also confidently give information that is wrong, outdated, incomplete, or misunderstood. A good rule is to treat AI like a helpful assistant, not an authority. ADVERTISEMENT Whatever AI tool you use — ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or one of the many others — always verify its answers. Ask where the information came from. Try questions such as, 'What is your source for that?' or 'Can you give me reliable sources I can check?' Never rely on an AI answer alone, especially when it involves your health, finances, legal rights, Social Security, Medicare, or major purchases. Our ancestors survived the Industrial Revolution — steam power, factories, railroads, mechanized manufacturing, and electricity transformed how people worked and lived. Today's Digital Revolution has changed our lives enormously, and we need to accept the changes and learn how to benefit from them. We may not get to choose the changes that come our way, but we do get to choose how we respond to them. Baby boomers have decades of life experience that AI does not have — wisdom, memories, relationships, stories, and firsthand knowledge. Use AI to help put those things to work. So the question is: are we going to roll over and play dead, or lift our heads, wag a cautious tail, and learn which new tricks are actually worth the treat?