🌟 AESOP AI Academy · Senior Program

AI Literacy,
In Person, Where You Live.

The AESOP Senior AI Literacy Program brings plain-language AI education directly to older adults at YMCAs, senior centers, and community organizations across the country. No prior tech experience required. No screens to squint at alone. Just a small group, a skilled educator, and the tools to make AI work for you — not the other way around.

In-Person Instruction YMCAs Nationwide Senior Centers No Experience Needed Free to Attend
Program Curriculum

What the Program Covers

Each session is designed to be approachable, practical, and immediately useful. We do not assume any prior experience with AI, smartphones, or computers beyond basic familiarity. Every topic connects directly to situations older adults encounter in daily life.

Session 1
🤖
What AI Actually Is
Separating science fiction from reality. What language models do, what they cannot do, and why the headlines are often misleading.
Session 2
🗣️
Talking to AI Assistants
Hands-on practice with voice and text interfaces — Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, ChatGPT, and Claude. How to ask good questions and understand the answers.
Session 3
🚨
Recognizing AI Scams
Deepfake phone calls, AI-generated voices impersonating family members, phishing emails, and fake emergency appeals. How to spot them and what to do.
Session 4
❤️
AI and Your Health
Using AI to research medical questions, understand prescriptions, and prepare for doctor appointments — while understanding exactly what AI cannot replace.
Session 5
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
Staying Connected with Family
AI tools that help with video calls, writing messages, sharing photos, and translating across languages — keeping relationships strong across distances.
Session 6
🔒
Protecting Your Privacy
What information to share with AI tools and what to keep private. Password basics, account security, and the difference between private and public AI systems.
Session 7
♿
AI Accessibility Tools
AI-powered tools for hearing challenges, low vision, and limited mobility — including real-time transcription, screen readers, and voice-controlled devices.
Session 8
💰
Protecting Your Money
AI-driven financial fraud, romance scams, investment schemes, and grandparent scams. Practical steps to verify before you act and who to call when something seems wrong.
Session 9
✍️
Creative Uses of AI
Using AI to help write letters and memoirs, research family genealogy, organize recipes, explore hobbies, and stay mentally sharp through creative engagement.
Session 10
📰
Understanding AI in the News
How to read AI headlines critically — what the major developments actually mean, what is hype, and how to stay informed without feeling overwhelmed.
36
Target Cities
2
Venue Partners
10
Sessions Per Site
Free
To Attend
Program Format

How the Program Works

Sessions are held in small groups of 8–15 participants at local YMCAs and senior centers. Each session runs approximately 90 minutes and follows a consistent structure: a brief presentation, a hands-on demonstration, and open time for questions and practice. Participants are encouraged to bring their own phones or tablets, but devices are provided for those who need them.

The program is designed as a ten-session sequence, with each session building on the last. Attendance at every session is encouraged but not required — each class is also designed to stand on its own. There are no tests, no homework, and no pressure. The only goal is that participants leave each session knowing something genuinely useful that they did not know when they walked in.

Sites are selected based on partnership with the hosting organization and geographic reach into communities where digital literacy resources have historically been scarce. Priority is given to sites in cities with populations over 500,000, where senior populations are largest and need is greatest.

Apply to Teach

Send a brief introduction and your background to our program team.

Send Application → educators@aesopacademy.org
Join the Program

We Are Looking for Educators

AESOP AI Academy is actively recruiting instructors to deliver the Senior AI Literacy Program at YMCAs and senior centers across the country. This is a paid, part-time role with flexible scheduling built around the hosting site's calendar.

We are looking for people who combine genuine warmth and patience with enough technical fluency to explain AI tools clearly to a non-technical audience. You do not need to be an AI expert. You do need to be an excellent teacher.

Ideal candidates have:

  • Experience in adult education, community instruction, or related fields
  • The ability to explain technology clearly to people with no technical background
  • Patience, adaptability, and a genuine interest in serving older adults
  • Familiarity with common AI tools (ChatGPT, Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant)
  • Reliable transportation to reach local YMCA and senior center venues
  • Availability for daytime and early-afternoon sessions, typically weekdays

We provide full curriculum materials, lesson plans, and pre-session training. Compensation is per session, with rates varying by market. We are currently prioritizing cities with populations over 500,000.