Never Assume You Can Do It the Same Way Again

One of the great benefits of getting older is experience.

We have been around the block a few times. We have travelled, bought houses, driven across the country, renewed passports, gone through airports, booked hotels and crossed borders. We have learned how things work.

And that experience is valuable.

But there is a trap hiding inside it.

We can begin to think, “I’ve done this before. I know how it works.”

That may have been true six months ago.

It may not be true today.

Travel is a perfect example.

You might have flown to Florida last winter. You arrived at the airport, checked your bags, went through security and boarded the plane without a problem. So, when you plan the same trip this year, you might assume you know exactly what to do.

But airports change. Airlines change. Security procedures change. Baggage rules change. Flights are cancelled or moved. Check-in procedures change. Technology changes. Entry requirements change. Borders change.

Even the neighbourhood where you are staying may have changed.

The restaurant you loved might be gone. The hotel may have changed ownership. The bus route may have changed. That little grocery store around the corner may have closed.

Your memory says, “I know this place.”

Reality may be saying, “Welcome back. Things have changed.”

And sometimes technology has a particularly nasty way of reminding us of this lesson.

I am experiencing that lesson right now.

My cell phone isn't working properly, and the solution may be to do a factory reset. If that happens, the phone will essentially be returned to the way it was when I first bought it. That means losing the information and data currently stored on it unless I can restore it from a backup.

I have spent years telling people, “Back up your important information.”

And to be fair, I do back up my information.

The problem?

The last time I backed up my phone to the cloud was about a month before the phone crashed.

Now I'm kicking myself.

Why didn't I back it up last week? Why didn't I do it yesterday? Why did I assume that because I had backed it up before, I was covered?

I wasn't.

The phone has given me a very personal reminder that doing something before isn't the same as doing it recently.

We learn from experience. Sometimes, unfortunately, we learn by making the mistake ourselves.

This isn't just about travel or cell phones.

Think about banking.

A few years ago, you might have walked into your bank, spoken to a teller and taken care of your business. Today, you may be encouraged to use an app, an ATM or an online service. The process has changed.

Think about health care.

The doctor, clinic or pharmacy you have used for years may have changed its procedures. Appointments may now be booked online. Forms may have to be completed electronically. New rules may have been introduced.

Think about driving.

A road you have driven for 20 years may now have a new traffic pattern, construction, a roundabout or a different speed limit.

There is a tendency as we get older to say, “I've been doing this all my life.”

And we have.

That's something to be proud of.

But the world doesn't stop changing simply because we have accumulated a lifetime of experience.

The trick isn't to throw away what we have learned. The trick is to combine experience with curiosity.

Your experience gives you a head start.

Curiosity keeps you from being left behind.

Before travelling, check the airline's current baggage and check-in requirements. Check your passport and entry requirements. Confirm your hotel reservation. Don't rely solely on what you remember from your last trip.

Before doing something, you haven't done for a while, ask a simple question:

“What has changed since the last time I did this?”

That one question can save you a lot of frustration.

It can save you money.

And, in some situations, it can keep you safe.

It can also save you from standing in an airport looking at a sign and wondering when they changed the rules!

So, the next time you are about to do something you have done many times before, pause for a moment.

Don't just ask, “How did I do this last time?”

Ask, “What's different this time?”

And perhaps add one more question, especially when technology is involved:

“When was the last time I backed this up?”

I know what I'm going to do when I get my phone working again.

I'm going to back it up.

And then I'm going to try very hard not to wait another month.

Because getting older gives us something very valuable: experience.

But staying curious makes sure that experience remains useful.

The goal isn't to know everything.

The goal is to keep learning enough to confidently find our way through whatever comes next.

Ready to Try AI? Here’s How to Get Started Try Google Gemini

If you already use Google services, you may want to try Gemini.

Step 1: Open your web browser

Open Chrome, Safari, Edge or another supported browser.

Step 2: Go to Gemini

Type:

gemini.google.com

into the address bar and press Enter.

You should arrive at the Gemini website.

Step 3: Sign in if necessary

Some Gemini features can be used without signing in, depending on your device and location.

If you want additional features and the ability to save your Gemini activity, you will need to sign in with a Google Account.

If you already use Gmail, you probably already have a Google Account.

Click Sign in and enter your Google email address and password when asked.

If you don't have a Google Account, you can create one by following Google's instructions on the screen.

Step 4: Ask your first question

Once Gemini is open, look for the box where you can enter a question.

Try:

“Give me five ideas for things I can do on a rainy afternoon.”

Then press Enter or click the Submit button.

Just as with ChatGPT, you can continue the conversation.

You could ask:

“Give me five more that I can do with a friend.”

Then:

“Which one would be the least expensive?”

And there you are. You are using AI.

One More Thing: Don't Be Afraid to Experiment

Your first question doesn't have to be important.

In fact, I recommend that it isn't.

Ask AI something you're curious about.

Ask it to explain something.

Ask it for a recipe.

Ask it for gardening advice.

Ask it to suggest a book.

Ask it to help plan a day trip.

You can even ask:

“What are five interesting things you can help me with?”

Then pick one and give it a try.

There is no test. Nobody is grading your questions.

And if you don't like the answer, tell it so.

Try saying:

“That's not what I was looking for. Try again.”

Or:

“Explain that in simpler language.”

Or:

“Give me three examples.”

That's how you learn.

Start with five minutes.

You don't have to become an AI expert. You simply need to discover whether this new tool can make something in your life a little easier, more interesting or more enjoyable.

And if you get stuck, ask a friend, grandchild, neighbour or someone at a local seniors' organization for help.

Technology is much less intimidating when someone is sitting beside you.

So, give it a try.

Open the browser.

Type chatgpt.com or gemini.google.com.

Ask one question.

You might be surprised where that first question takes you.

And if you want some help getting started, organizations such as the GLUU Society are there to help older adults become more comfortable with technology.

The future isn't something we have to be afraid of.

Sometimes, we just need to learn how to use it.

Ready to Try AI? Here’s How to Get Started Try Chat GPT

In my recent posts, I suggested that seniors try using Artificial Intelligence such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini. The goal of the articles was to motivate seniors to actually try AI. However, saying “open ChatGPT and ask a question” is a bit like telling someone who has never driven a car, “Get in and go for a drive.”

But if you have never used AI before, you may be wondering, “Yes, but HOW do I actually get started?”

Fair question.

So, here is a simple step-by-step guide. You don't need to be a computer expert. If you can use a web browser and type a question, you have most of what you need.

Option 1: Try ChatGPT

ChatGPT is one of the most popular AI tools. There is a free version, and you can try it without creating an account.

Step 1: Open your web browser

On your computer, tablet or smartphone, open the program you normally use to go onto the internet.

It might be called Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox.

Step 2: Go to ChatGPT

At the top of your screen, you will see a long box where you normally type a website address.

Type:

chatgpt.com

Then press the Enter key on your computer or tap the arrow/go button on your phone or tablet.

You should see the ChatGPT website.

Step 3: Look for the place to type

You will see a box where you can type a question or request.

That's it.

You are ready to have your first conversation with AI.

You don't need to use special computer language. Talk to it much as you would talk to another person.

For your first experiment, try something simple.

Type:

“Give me five ideas for things I can do on a rainy afternoon.”

Then press Enter or click the arrow/send button.

Wait a few seconds.

AI will give you an answer.

Step 4: Ask another question

This is where things get interesting.

You don't have to start over every time you have another question.

You can continue the conversation.

For example, after receiving your five ideas, you could type:

“Give me five more ideas that don't cost any money.”

Then:

“Which one would be good to do with my grandchildren?”

You are now having a conversation with AI.

Step 5: Try something useful

Once you've played around for a few minutes, try something that could actually help you.

For example:

“I am going to Victoria for three days. I have some difficulty walking long distances. Suggest an itinerary with activities that don't require a lot of walking.”

Or:

“Explain compound interest to me as if I were a 12-year-old.”

Or:

“Help me make a grocery list for five simple healthy dinners.”

Don't worry about getting the question exactly right.

If the answer isn't what you wanted, tell AI what you want changed.

Try:

“That's not quite what I meant. Try again and make it simpler.”

That is one of the secrets of using AI. You can keep talking to it.

Do I have to create an account?

Not necessarily.

OpenAI currently allows people to try ChatGPT without creating an account. However, conversations made while you are not logged in aren't saved as chat history. Creating an account gives you more ways to save and manage your conversations.

If ChatGPT asks you to sign in or create an account, don't be alarmed. Follow the instructions on the screen.

You may be offered the choice to sign up using an email address or another supported sign-in method.

If you already have an account with the service, you can sign in instead.

And remember never give an AI service your banking password, SIN, credit card number or other sensitive personal information.

AI for Seniors, Ten Simple Ways to Make Life a Little Easier: Part 2

Last time, I looked at five practical ways seniors can use Artificial Intelligence to make everyday life a little easier.

The important thing to remember is that you don't have to become an AI expert. You don't even have to understand how AI works.

Think of it as a tool.

A very patient tool.

You can ask it a question at midnight. You can ask it to explain something again. You can ask it to simplify an answer. And unlike the rest of us, it never seems to get tired of being asked the same question twice.

Here are five more ways you can put AI to work.

6. Help Drafting Messages

Sometimes the hardest part of writing an email or letter is getting started.

You know what you want to say, but the words don't quite come together.

AI can help.

Try asking: “Draft a polite email to my strata committee about noisy neighbours.”

Or: “Help me write a birthday message for my teenage granddaughter that sounds warm but not too formal.”

You don't have to use what AI writes word for word. In fact, you shouldn't. Think of it as a first draft that you can change until it sounds like you.

The words should still be yours.

7. Making Travel Plans

Travel planning can involve hours of searching for places to stay, things to do, restaurants, transportation and accessible attractions.

AI can help you get started.

Try asking: “Plan a three-day trip to Victoria for a couple who have mobility challenges.”

Or: “Create a packing list for a seven-day Alaskan cruise.”

You can then ask follow-up questions: “Make it less expensive.” “Add accessible activities.” “Give me options for rainy days.”

That conversation can help you build a much more useful plan.

Just remember to verify current prices, opening hours, reservations and travel requirements before you leave home.

8. Learning Something New

One of the great advantages of retirement is having the opportunity to become a beginner again.

Want to learn photography? Try gardening? Understand artificial intelligence? Learn another language? Improve your cooking?

AI can become a very patient tutor.

Try asking: “Teach me how to use my new smartphone one step at a time.”

Or: “I've always wanted to learn photography. Give me a simple four-week beginner's plan.”

You can ask questions whenever you get stuck.

There is something rather wonderful about being able to say, “I don't understand that. Explain it another way.”

9. Staying Connected with Family

Technology can sometimes create distance between generations, but it can also bring us closer.

AI can help you think of conversation starters, activities and ways to connect with children and grandchildren.

Try asking: “Give me five conversation starters I can use when I call my teenage grandson.”

Or: “Suggest activities I can do with my grandchildren that don't involve screens.”

You might even ask AI to explain something your grandchildren are interested in so you can understand what they are talking about.

The goal isn't to replace the conversation.

It is to help create one.

10. Exploring Hobbies and Keeping Your Mind Active

This may be my favourite use of AI.

Retirement should be about more than managing appointments and paperwork. It should also be about curiosity, enjoyment and discovering what comes next.

AI can become a companion for your hobbies.

If you enjoy gardening, ask about planting schedules. If you like cooking, ask for recipes based on what you have in the refrigerator. If you play golf, ask for ideas to improve your short game. If you love reading, ask for suggestions based on books you've enjoyed.

Try asking: “I enjoy historical novels. Recommend some authors and explain what makes their books interesting.”

Or: “Give me five simple ways to improve my putting.”

The possibilities are almost endless.

Four Golden Rules for Staying Safe

AI is powerful, but that doesn't mean we should believe everything it tells us.

First, keep private details private. Never give AI your SIN, bank account number, credit card information, passwords or other sensitive personal information.

Second, double-check important facts. AI can make mistakes. Verify medical, financial, legal and government information with the appropriate professional or official source.

Third, don't substitute AI for people. A computer can give you information, but it can't replace your doctor, financial adviser, family, friends or the people in your community. Those human connections are important to our health and happiness.

And fourth, start small.

You don't need to learn everything about AI. Pick one thing from these two articles that would make your life a little easier.

Open ChatGPT or Gemini and ask a question.

Try something.

You may discover that artificial intelligence isn't really about replacing people at all.

It can be about giving people a little more independence, a little more confidence and a little more time to do the things they enjoy.