In Taiwan, columnist advises retirees to learn AI and smart home technology
In Taiwan, a columnist urged people not to give up digital technologies because of their age after retirement, but to gradually learn artificial intelligence and smart home devices. In the author’s view, the main obstacle is not the complexity of technology, but the willingness to take the first step and learn through practice.
As Taipei Times reports, smart cameras, outlets, locks and sensors can be used after setup with a few taps on a smartphone. Cameras make it possible to check on the home and communicate with family members, smart outlets allow appliances to be switched off remotely, and sensors can send notifications about doors or windows being opened or water leaks.
AI as an assistant
Generative systems, including ChatGPT and Gemini, may seem complex at first acquaintance, but ordinary users do not need to understand the technical principles of how they work, the author notes. A chatbot can be used for conversation and finding answers, translation, preparing text based on one’s own ideas, or organizing information before a trip.
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According to the author, users can also send a chatbot photos of unfamiliar technical devices and ask questions about them. If the answer is unsatisfactory, he advises rephrasing the request, finding out what may have gone wrong, and trying again.
Learning through trial
The column emphasizes the role of a mentor: they should not complete tasks instead of the learner, but suggest a direction when a person encounters difficulties. A successful first conversation with AI, setting up a smart home system, or checking the home remotely can, in the author’s view, primarily build confidence in one’s own ability to use technology.
After finishing a career, technology can be mastered not for work but for everyday life — to preserve independence, improve safety and convenience, and stay connected with family and the wider world.
