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.

AI for Seniors:, Ten Simple Ways to Make Life a Little Easier: Part 1

You’ve likely heard plenty of talk lately about Artificial Intelligence, or AI, tools such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini.

Perhaps you have wondered what all the fuss is about.

Maybe you have even tried asking AI a question and were surprised when it actually gave you a useful answer.

If you haven’t tried it yet, don’t worry. You don’t have to become a computer expert, learn complicated programming or understand how AI works. Think of it as having a very patient assistant sitting beside you, ready to help when you have a question.

The GLUU Society is one organization helping older adults become more comfortable with technology and the digital world. Their work is a great reminder that technology should be a tool that helps us live better, not something that intimidates us.

Here are the first five of ten simple, practical ways older Canadians can put AI to work.

1. Scam Verification

There seems to be a new scam every week, and some are becoming remarkably convincing. AI can help you examine a suspicious email, text message or phone call and explain the warning signs.

Try asking: “I received an email saying the CRA owes me money. What are the signs that this could be a scam?”

Or: “How do I protect myself from a grandparent scam using a cloned voice?”

AI should not replace your common sense or an official source, but it can help you recognize the red flags.

2. Translating “Doctor-Speak”

A medical appointment can sometimes feel like drinking from a fire hose. Your doctor explains something, uses three words you have never heard before, and then moves on to the next subject.

AI can help you understand the terminology in plain English.

Try asking: “Can you explain osteoarthritis in simple terms without medical jargon?”

Or: “What three questions should I ask my doctor about a new medication?”

Remember, AI can explain information, but it cannot diagnose you or replace your doctor.

3. Navigating Canadian Pensions and Tax Credits

Government programs can sometimes seem as though they were written by people who were paid by the word.

AI can help you understand the terminology and identify questions you should investigate further.

Try asking: “What Canadian tax credits might be available to seniors for home mobility modifications?”

Or: “What is the Canadian Dental Care Plan, and who may be eligible?”

Use AI as your research assistant, then confirm important information with the appropriate government department or a qualified financial professional.

4. Understanding Government and Community Services

Sometimes the hardest part of getting help is figuring out where to begin.

You may know you need assistance with transportation, home repairs, food, caregiving or social isolation, but you may not know which organization to contact.

Try asking: “I am a senior living in British Columbia. What types of community services might help an older adult who is becoming socially isolated?”

Or: “What questions should I ask when looking for transportation services for seniors?”

AI can help you turn a vague problem into a list of possible solutions and questions.

5. Organizing Your Life

Retirement does not necessarily mean having nothing to do. In fact, many retirees wonder how they ever found time to work!

AI can help organize appointments, errands, projects and travel plans into manageable steps.

Try asking: “I have six appointments and errands this week. Help me organize them into a simple schedule.”

Or: “Create a checklist for preparing my house before I leave for a two-week vacation.”

You remain in charge. AI simply helps turn the clutter in your head into an organized plan.

And that may be one of the most useful things AI can do.

If you are curious about learning more, take a look at the GLUU Society and the resources they provide for older adults. You don't have to understand everything about technology. You just need to be willing to try one new thing.

Next time, we’ll look at five more ways AI can help with communication, travel, learning, family and the hobbies we enjoy.

Start small. Ask one question.

You may be surprised by the answer.

The Gift That Goes Both Ways

Today I look at how charities help seniors give back

We often talk about charities serving seniors as places where older adults go to receive help.

There is certainly truth in that. Seniors may need assistance with transportation, meals, housing, health programs, social activities or simply a place where they can go and feel welcome. For someone who is isolated, grieving, newly retired or struggling with a change in circumstances, a seniors’ organization can become an important lifeline.

But there is another side of the story that doesn't get nearly enough attention.

Seniors aren't just the people being served by these organizations. They are also the people doing the serving.

Walk into almost any seniors' centre or community organization in British Columbia and you will find older adults behind the scenes. They are answering phones, greeting newcomers, preparing meals, organizing programs, making coffee, delivering food, driving people to appointments, sitting with someone who needs company, raising money and helping another senior figure out how to navigate a complicated system.

In many cases, they are the engine that keeps the organization moving.

Take Seniors Services Society of BC, for example. Volunteers help with medical transportation, grocery support, friendly morning calls, fundraising events and other programs designed to help older adults remain connected and independent. The organization is actively recruiting volunteers because there is simply so much work to be done.

Then there is Care BC, where volunteers play a central role in programs such as Meals on Wheels. Volunteers don't simply leave a meal at the door. They provide a friendly hello, a brief visit and an informal check on the person's well-being. For someone who may spend much of the day alone, that few minutes of human contact can be every bit as important as the meal itself. Care BC puts it rather nicely: volunteers are the "heart and soul" of its work.

Seniors First BC offers another example. Its volunteers help raise awareness about issues affecting older adults and support educational programs dealing with subjects such as financial abuse, advance planning, government benefits, fraud and scams, and residential tenancy. These are not people simply filling time. They are using their knowledge and experience to help other older adults make better decisions and protect themselves.

And this isn't a new idea in British Columbia.

The provincial government has recognized for years that older adults are an important part of the volunteer sector. Its research has pointed to the benefits of volunteering for seniors themselves, including stronger social networks, improved quality of life, greater life satisfaction and a stronger sense of purpose.

That last point deserves our attention.

Purpose.

I have met many people who enjoyed retirement enormously during the first few months. No alarm clock. No commute. No boss asking where that report is. No Monday morning meetings.

What's not to like?

But eventually, some begin to miss something they didn't realize their working life had provided: a reason to get up and go somewhere.

Retirement gives us freedom, but freedom without purpose can sometimes become isolation.

Volunteering can change that.

It doesn't have to mean committing 20 hours a week or taking on another full-time job without a paycheque. It might mean helping at a monthly event, reading with a child, welcoming people at a seniors' centre, delivering meals, making phone calls, serving on a committee or sharing a skill you have developed over a lifetime.

The important thing isn't how many hours you give.

It is that you give something.

And there is another benefit that is sometimes overlooked.

Volunteering puts us in the path of other people.

That matters.

Friendships don't always happen because we decide we need a new friend. They happen because we repeatedly show up in the same place, work alongside someone, share a laugh, solve a problem or discover that we have something in common.

A volunteer shift can become a friendship.

A committee meeting can become a social circle.

A simple invitation to help can become the beginning of a whole new chapter.

I think this is particularly important for those of us who have spent most of our lives being responsible for somebody else. We raised children. We built careers. We looked after parents. We coached teams. We served on committees. We helped neighbours.

Why should retirement suddenly mean that all of that stops?

It shouldn't.

In fact, retirement may be the first time in our lives when we can choose where our experience, energy and compassion will make the biggest difference.

That's why I believe charities serving seniors should never be thought of simply as places where seniors go to receive.

They are places where seniors can contribute, lead, teach, encourage and belong.

The relationship is not one-way.

We help each other.

The senior who receives a ride today may be the volunteer giving someone else a ride next year. The person who comes to a seniors' centre looking for friendship may eventually become the person standing at the door welcoming a newcomer.

That is how communities are built.

And British Columbia has thousands of seniors doing exactly that.

So, if you are retired, or approaching retirement, and you find yourself wondering what comes next, don't ask only, "What can I get involved in?"

Ask another question:

"What can I give?"

You may discover that the answer is much bigger than you expected.

You may also discover something else.

While you are giving your time to someone else, you may find that you have received something pretty valuable yourself, a reason to show up, people to show up for, new friendships and a renewed sense that you still matter.

Because you do