Understanding New Technology – A Guide to AI

“Luddites unite! We candlemakers know electricity is the devil’s spawn,” a friend joked when I said I was writing about artificial intelligence (AI).

By playing old-school resistor to tech, my friend captured the modern meaning of

luddite — a skeptic of the latest digital trend. I understood: AI seemed more like something on Star Trek than everyday life — until I tried it and saw the possibilities.

Today’s luddites may laugh about being baffled by tech, but with AI’s rapid growth even digital natives can feel left behind. “I’m not unable, just unwilling to jump on the latest tech wave,” my friend quipped.

Love it or loathe it, AI is here. Better to get acquainted than be the candlemaker shaking a fist at electricity while everyone else flips the switch. Here’s a quick guide for understanding AI.

What’s the Difference Between “Just Google It” and AI?

 

My friend said, “I have to confess — I don’t get the fuss. Isn’t this just the internet with a new name? We’ve been accessing information online for years.”

 

You may have already noticed that in many browsers, AI now appears directly on the search page itself, often at the top, offering detailed answers rather than links.

 

Traditional search engines retrieve information. When we type in a word or phrase it brings up a list informational links. Generative AI is different. Built on large language models, AI finds patterns in massive amounts of text and responds in full sentences. It can mix ideas from multiple sources to create new stories, music, images, or other content. Need a summary, a script, or a checklist? Just ask.

 

Think of the old “Google it” search engine like a librarian handing you a stack of books and saying, “These will answer your questions.” Now, picture AI as a talkative librarian who’s read the books and offers answers with a mix of brilliance and occasional blunders.

 

Why Try AI? AI Can Make Life a Bit Easier — and Even Fun

 

Accessing AI is Easy

 

You don’t need any tech skills to use AI. You access it in the same way you already search the internet. Some tools, such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot, can be reached by typing their names into a browser or app. But often,

you don’t even have to do that because they are increasingly showing up inside search results, email programs, and other apps/programs we already use.

 

Follow your curiosity

 

Sample Prompt: Enter: “I have arthritis. What are 5 low-impact exercises that would help?”

Result: “Walking, swimming/water aerobics, cycling, yoga/Tai Chi, and strength training with resistance bands.” Then each activity is described with links providing more information.

 

Generate ideas

 

Sample Prompt Enter: “My 69-year-old friend’s birthday is coming up. She enjoys gardening and cooking but has everything she needs. I’m stumped.”

Result: “Consider experience gifts, consumables, or hobby upgrades; for example, an herb-drying rack, a cooking class, or specialty olive oils.” This is a sample; results often include suggestions like these and more.

 

Plan travel

 

Sample Prompt Enter: “Need an itinerary for a 3-day visit to Portland, OR in October with rain-friendly activities and cafés near museums.”

Result: “Day 1: Portland Art Museum → café two blocks away; Day 2: OMSI exhibits + indoor market; Day 3: bookstore crawl + covered food hall.”

Help with everyday tasks

 

Prompt Enter: “Here’s what’s in my fridge (list items). . . suggest a 20-minute dinner recipe.”

Result: A complete recipe based on what you have on hand. Chefs call this a “blackbox challenge,” and after cooking and eating, I felt like a chef too! The more detail you provide, the better the answer.

 

Troubleshoot

Prompt Enter: “My wireless doorbell stopped working; Model X. I replaced both batteries and pushed the reset button. What’s next?”

Result: It gave me step-by-step instructions. Once I uploaded a photo, it offered more specific things to try.

Don’t Throw Caution to the Wind

Double-check facts
AI can be wrong. If something sounds off, trust your instincts. Errors can be minor, like a wrong date, or more serious, like outdated health advice. For anything important, ask for the reference source or seek professional advice.

Guard your secrets
Don’t share personal details like Social Security numbers, bank info, passwords, or even Grandma’s famous pie crust recipe. AI is a helper, not a vault.

You needn’t become a tech expert to use AI. Curiosity, though, may help you stay connected in a fast-changing world. Next time something puzzles, delights, or irritates you, you might wonder: What would AI say about that?

Give it a try. Candlemakers didn’t have to love electricity to enjoy the light. Just flip the switch with your eyes open.

 

Monica Wright

50plus Magazine

Monica Wright, retired speech-language pathologist, enjoys reflecting on life’s transitions through creative nonfiction.