What AI can (and can't) do for older adults

Long before ChatGPT became a household name, Susan Gonzales knew artificial intelligence was going to change how we live. More than a decade ago, the Mill Valley-based Gonzales first heard about artificial intelligence - now more commonly referred to as AI - while working at Meta in the Bay Area. She found the new-toher technology intriguing, but also confusing for those not working in tech.

"I decided to leave my company and create a nonprofit to educate ordinary people about AI in easy-to-understand language," she says.

That idea turned into AIandYOu, which launched in 2019. The nonprofit offers an array of free resources, including articles and videos that explain everything from the basics of AI to how older adults, educators, and small businesses can use the technology. Gonzales also served on the National AI Advisory Committee during the Biden Administration. So what exactly is artificial intelligence? According to AIandYou:

"AI refers to a branch of computer science that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence....AI is about teaching computers to mimic or even improve upon human thought processes... AI recognizes patterns, makes predictions, and improves responses over time, much like how humans learn from experience."

If that still feels abstract, you're not alone. For many people - especially those outside of the tech industry - AI can seem more intimidating than useful. But the truth is, if you have a smartphone or watch streaming television, you're already using AI.

Consider the last time you shopped online. A site may have recommended additional items for you to purchase. That's a form of AI. The same goes for when you finish a show on Netflix and see suggestions tailored to your preferences. "That is called predictive AI because it's learning our behavior and predicting what we'd like," says Gonzales.

A personal assistant

Generative AI, on the other hand, powers tools like ChatGPT or Google's Gemini. You type in a question, called a prompt, and the site generates a response.

Dariin Reagan, 65, of San Clemente (Orange County), recently used AI to help plan a trip to Japan.

"Of course, you can get travel books and plan that way, but I just went on Gemini and told it how many days we were going to be in Japan and what kinds of activities we were interested in doing," he says. "It came to be a great itinerary. Since the suggestions were AI-generated, it had combed through hundreds of books and articles online to find the best recommendations. I never would have had the time to do that.

The more specific your prompt, the better the response. There's even an art to phrasing your query, often referred to as prompt engineering. Not sure how to do it? Try searching YouTube for videos on how to write better prompts.

Other popular uses for generative AI include:

• Creating weekly meal plans tailored to your diet
• Finding new workouts (with images or videos)
• Summarizing long articles or books

Finding a job using AI

AI is also becoming a useful tool for job seekers. Platforms now help users write and refine resumes, prepare for interviews, and track job applications. Some even let you speak your answers aloud to practice.

David Fano of Miami saw the potential and founded Teal in late 2019. The company now offers free and paid services for job seekers, including a resume builder, job board, interview prep tools, and outreach tracking.

"Our main feature is resume-building software," Fano says. "You can load everything you've ever done into our platform, and our system will cherry-pick the best parts to match the job you want."

Another resource, Los Angeles-based Consulting, offers a tool called ResumAI.

"We help people structure their experience based on the impact they've had," says Daniel Cho, Wonsulting's product and operations manager. "So, if you worked as a barista, you can show that you handled tills for nine months with zero errors, which saved the company money."

Even free tools like Gemini can help. Gonzales suggests asking it:

"I'm interviewing for a sales position. I'm 65 years old, and here is my experience. What are 10 questions I should expect in an interview?"

Using AI without fear

Gonzales emphasizes that AI should be used as a starting point, not a final answer.

"You can use AI for suggestions, ideas, and editing, but not for cutting and pasting," she says. "AI pulls from many sources across the internet, and it can be wrong. The rule is, if it matters, don't copy and paste - verify." Still anxious?

"There isn't anything to be afraid of," says Reagan. "You're talking to a computer. It's just giving you information from the internet. Exploration is key. The more you use it, the better the results.

Gonzales agrees.

"Now is not the time to keep your head in the sand," she says. "AI isn't like social media 20 years ago, where you could opt in or out. We interact with it daily - at the grocery store, at the doctor's office, even at the airport security. It's not coming. It's here. There are safe, practical ways for older adults to embrace it - and may opportunities, too."

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