OpenAI and AARP Partnership for Older Adult Online Safety

OpenAI and AARP's Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) have launched a multi-year effort to help older adults use AI safely and securely. This partnership focuses on providing educational resources and training to ensure older adults can leverage AI tools like ChatGPT to identify and avoid online scams.

AI Literacy and Scam Prevention Training

OpenAI and OATS have developed educational content to help older adults recognize fraudulent activity. A new video available on the OpenAI Academy teaches users how to use ChatGPT as a "second pair of eyes" to identify common scam warning signs, such as suspicious links, secrecy, and urgent language.

While ChatGPT can flag suspicious messages, OpenAI emphasizes that the tool should be used in conjunction with personal judgment and standard safety practices, such as avoiding clicking unknown links or sharing personal information. The core guidance for users is to "pause, think, and ask."

Expanded National Training Programs

The partnership introduces several nationwide initiatives to provide AI education to older adults:

  • Curriculum Expansion: The Senior Planet program's in-person and online curriculum is being updated to include AI training and a short educational video on spotting scams.

  • Digital Safety and Privacy: The collaboration includes a refreshed AI for Older Adults Guide, a new course dedicated to protecting privacy and data, and specialized training for AARP state offices.

  • Community Scaling: Subgrants are provided to local partners to scale AI literacy across the country.

  • Research: An annual national survey will be conducted to conduct research on AI use among older adults.

Funding and the OpenAI Academy

In 2024, OpenAI worked with OATS to launch the Societal Resilience Fund, a $2 million commitment supported by Microsoft, to strengthen the Senior Planet program and other key partners.

These efforts are part of the broader OpenAI Academy, a free online resource for AI literacy. Marking its first anniversary, the OpenAI Academy has reached over 2 million people, including students, small business owners, nonprofit leaders, and workers.

Strategic Goals for AI Accessibility

OpenAI's stated mission is to ensure artificial intelligence benefits everyone, particularly communities that have often been left behind in technological revolutions. This urgency is driven by data from an AARP survey showing that AI use among older adults has doubled and 30% of older adults are excited about the potential of the technology.

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