Dear Joy · No. 3 ·
Living with new technology, one letter at a time.
My mom is scared of all this AI stuff. How do I help?
Dear Joy,
My mother is 78 and sharp as a tack, but she’s convinced AI is either a scam or the end of the world. I think it could help her with her medications list and her emails. How do I even start?
Joy answers
Worcester, your mom sounds wonderful, and honestly? A little healthy suspicion is exactly what these tools deserve. Scams using AI are real. She’s not wrong to be careful. She just doesn’t have to be scared.
Don’t start with the big pitch. Start with one thing she already wants. Maybe it’s a birthday note to a grandchild, or making sense of a letter from the pharmacy. Sit next to her, let her do the typing, and let it be a little clumsy. One small win is worth more than an hour of explaining.
Then give her the two rules that matter most. One: never type passwords, bank numbers or her Social Security number into anything. Two: anything about health or money gets checked with a real person, her doctor, her pharmacist, her bank, before she acts on it. For her medications, a chat tool can help her format a tidy list to bring to an appointment, but the list itself should come from her pill bottles and her doctor.
Some people never warm up to it, and that’s fine too. The goal isn’t to convert her. It’s to make sure she feels capable, not left behind.
Feel the Joy, baby.
Joy
Sit beside her
Go slowly, let her type, and start with something she already wants help with. Curiosity grows from one small win.
Her caution is a strength
Teach her the two big rules: never share passwords or bank details, and double-check anything about health or money.
Clip and try this
Copy it into the chat app you already use.
I’m new to this, so please be patient. Explain in plain words, with no jargon, how you can help me write a short, friendly email to my grandson. Then help me write it.
Dear Joy is written by The Joy Daily’s editors. It’s general wellness and education, never medical, legal or financial advice.