You Asked, I Answered

Question: Is AI going to end up eliminating humanity? 

Answer: I get it. The headlines about AI 'taking over' can feel unsettling. But here's what I've learned firsthand: AI isn't some out-of-control force with a mind of its own. It's a tool, and like any tool, it does what you point it at. I'm a senior woman, and I didn't just learn to use AI, I use it every single day now, and it has genuinely made my life easier. It even helped me complete my doctoral dissertation in record time. If I can learn it at this stage of my life, anyone can. The important thing is for the companies developing the technology to focus on ethical use and yes, control its power. That's above our pay grade.

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Question: How can I learn it?

Answer: Start small. You don't need to master everything at once, just pick one tool, like ChatGPT or Claude. Try asking it something you're curious about, or something you're already doing anyway, like drafting an email or looking up a recipe. The more you play with it, the more comfortable it becomes. I didn't take a course or read a manual. I just started using it for real things in my own life, and the learning happened along the way. BTW - you have already been using it for years. Ever look up something in Google lately? Notice how it asks you questions to give you more information? Or how about Alexa or Siri? They are so much more than asking about the weather and time. You can ask it any question and it uses AI to answer. Or ask Google maps where the closest Starbucks is to you. It will respond with addresses and then the best way to go to get around traffic. AI is everywhere, it's just getting more and more useful.