LGBT Senior’s Tech Talk: You New Best Friend Might Be AI

By LGBTSr

Let’s be honest. Most of us didn’t grow up with computers, and some of us came to smartphones late and under protest. So when people started talking about artificial intelligence like it was the next big thing we all needed to understand, a lot of us did what made perfect sense: we ignored it and hoped it would sort itself out.

Here’s the thing, though. AI assistants — the kind you can talk to or type questions to — might actually be one of the most useful technologies to come along for older adults in a very long time. Not because they’re flashy, but because they’re patient. They don’t sigh. They don’t check their phone while you’re talking. They don’t make you feel foolish for asking the same question twice. They just answer.

So what exactly is an AI assistant?

Think of it as a very knowledgeable friend you can ask anything. Not a search engine that gives you a list of links to sort through — an actual conversational tool that reads your question, understands what you’re asking, and gives you a real answer in plain language.

You may have already encountered some of them without realizing it. Siri on your iPhone is an AI assistant. So is Google Assistant on Android phones. Amazon’s Alexa, the voice that lives in those small speakers people keep in their kitchens, is one too. And then there are newer, more conversational ones like ChatGPT and Claude that you can access through a web browser or app and have a genuine back-and-forth conversation with.

What can you actually use it for?

More than you might think. Here are some things real people are using AI assistants for every day:

Getting plain-language explanations of medical information. You got a diagnosis or a new prescription and the paperwork reads like it was written for someone with a medical degree. Ask an AI assistant to explain it in everyday language. It won’t replace your doctor, but it can help you walk into your next appointment with better questions.

Writing help. Need to write a letter to your landlord, a note to a grandchild, a complaint to a company that wronged you, or an email you’ve been putting off because you don’t know how to start? Describe what you want to say and ask the AI to help you write it. You can edit it from there, but the blank page problem disappears.

Companionship and conversation. This one surprises people, but it’s real. For those of us who live alone or have limited social contact, having something that engages thoughtfully with whatever’s on your mind — your memories, your opinions, a book you’re reading, a worry you can’t shake — has genuine value. It’s not a replacement for human connection, and a good AI will tell you that itself. But it’s there at two in the morning when nothing else is.

Tech help. Ironically, one of the best uses of an AI assistant is asking it how to use technology. “How do I make the text bigger on my iPhone?” “How do I attach a photo to an email?” “Why does my computer keep making that noise?” Ask it like you’d ask a patient friend and it will walk you through it step by step.

Recipes, recommendations, reminders, research. Whatever rabbit hole you want to go down, it will go with you.

Is it safe?

Reasonably, with some common sense applied. Don’t share your Social Security number, bank account information, or passwords with any AI assistant. Treat it the way you’d treat a helpful stranger — friendly and useful, but not someone who needs your personal financial details.

The major AI assistants from established companies — Google, Apple, Amazon, Anthropic, OpenAI — are not going to steal your identity. But scammers do sometimes create fake AI tools designed to look legitimate, so stick to well-known names and be cautious about anything that pops up in an ad asking you to sign up for something.

Where do you start?

If you have an iPhone, you already have Siri. Press and hold the side button and just talk to it. If you want something more conversational, go to claude.ai or chatgpt.com in your web browser — both have free versions and neither requires anything more than an email address to get started.

Type something simple the first time. “Can you explain what Medicare Part D covers?” or “Help me write a thank you note to my neighbor.” See what comes back. You may find yourself going back more than you expected.

Technology has a long history of making promises it doesn’t keep to older adults. This one, used simply and sensibly, is different. It meets you where you are, at whatever pace works for you, without judgment.

That’s not nothing. In fact, for a lot of us, that’s quite a lot.

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