Today OpenAI announces a partnership with AARP and its Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) initiative to teach older adults to use artificial intelligence in a safe and practical way. Why now? Because tools like ChatGPT are being used more by older adults, and gaps in digital literacy increase the risk of scams. (openai.com)
What the new effort includes
The collaboration is a multi-year program that starts with several concrete resources aimed at local communities and AARP teams in each state. The main elements include:
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Expanded nationwide training, with an updated Senior Planet curriculum and support for local organizations through subgrants. (openai.com)
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Digital safety and privacy programs, including a refreshed guide "AI for Older Adults", a course on data protection, and specialized workshops for AARP state offices. (openai.com)
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Annual research and surveys to understand how older adults use AI and to spot needs in real time. (openai.com)
In addition, OpenAI and OATS are producing practical teaching materials: a short video on the OpenAI Academy that shows common scam red flags and how to use ChatGPT as a "second opinion" to review suspicious messages. (openai.com)
A concrete example: how ChatGPT can help you review a message
Imagine you get an urgent message from someone claiming to be your bank asking for personal details. What do you do? A simple flow you can follow is:
- Don’t click any links or share personal information.
- Copy the suspicious text (without personal data) and ask
ChatGPTwhat fraud signals it sees. - Combine the model’s response with an extra check: call the bank’s official number or review your account through the app you normally use.
The idea is to use ChatGPT as an extra pair of eyes, not as a replacement for your judgment or basic security steps. Pause, think, and ask. (openai.com)
Context and why it matters
In 2024 OpenAI had already worked with OATS to launch the Societal Resilience Fund, a $2 million investment backed by Microsoft to strengthen programs like Senior Planet and other local partners. That kind of financial support aims to scale digital literacy among older adults. (openai.com)
According to AARP, tech adoption among older adults continues to rise; OpenAI notes that AI use in this group doubled and that 30 percent are excited about its potential. That helps explain why practical training is a priority. (aarp.org)
OpenAI also celebrates the first anniversary of the OpenAI Academy, which has already reached more than 2 million people with free resources to improve AI literacy. Making these tools accessible is part of their approach to ensure AI benefits everyone, at every age. (openai.com)
What you can do if you know an older person who wants to get started
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Invite them to watch the practical video on the OpenAI Academy and sit with them the first time. (academy.openai.com)
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Teach basic steps: never share passwords, be wary of urgency in messages, and verify senders through other channels. (openai.com)
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If you run a community organization, look for Senior Planet subgrants and program materials to coordinate local workshops. (openai.com)
Final thought
The news isn’t just that there’s a new video; it’s that big organizations are investing so older adults don’t get left behind in this tech phase. Isn’t it better to teach people to use the tool than to let the tool use people?
If you have family or neighbors who get lots of suspicious messages, starting with a short, practical workshop can make a real difference. Technology moves fast, but the mix of education, common sense, and local resources is still the best defense.
