Senior centers in Seoul are offering generative AI education programs to help older adults use tools such as Gemini [1].

These initiatives aim to bridge the digital divide by improving AI literacy among seniors. By teaching participants how to use voice commands and prompts, organizers hope to support a “second act” in the lives of older citizens [1].

On May 6, 2024, 16 seniors attended a training session at the Gomdalrae Senior Welfare Center located on the fourth floor in Gangseo-gu [2]. The program, organized by OpenAI and Fast Campus, focused on making emerging technology accessible to those who might otherwise be excluded from the AI transition [1].

Participants learned to create digital art and text by interacting with the software. One 84-year-old participant said, "I never thought I could create art with AI, but now I can make pictures just by speaking a prompt" [2].

The effort coincides with Family Month and Parents' Day in South Korea, using the occasion to encourage intergenerational technological fluency. An OpenAI spokesperson said the goal is to make AI accessible to all generations, including seniors who are eager to explore new tools [1].

Local observers note that the demand for these skills is rising. Cha Yun-kyung said, "We are seeing a growing interest among older adults to learn generative AI" [1].

To meet this demand, the number of AI education centers for seniors has expanded to 69 [2].

“"I never thought I could create art with AI, but now I can make pictures just by speaking a prompt."”

The expansion of AI literacy programs to senior centers reflects a strategic effort to prevent the elderly from becoming digitally marginalized as generative AI integrates into daily life. By shifting from traditional computer literacy to prompt-based interaction, these programs lower the barrier to entry for non-technical users, potentially reducing social isolation and cognitive decline through new forms of creative expression.