OpenAI and OATS from AARP Host Free Older Adults AI Skills Jam Across 10 U.S. Communities

OpenAI Academy and Older Adults Technology Services from AARP announced the launch of the Older Adults AI Skills Jam on Friday, offering a free in-person learning experience designed to help older adults use ChatGPT confidently and safely. Coordinated from OpenAI headquarters in San Francisco in collaboration with national aging specialists, the educational initiative will take place across 10 communities nationwide in partnership with local organizations supporting older residents. Participating host locations include Fresno, Denver, Miami, San Antonio, Montgomery County, Queens, St. Louis, the Twin Cities, Nashville, and Boise.

The ten-city workshop series forms a central pillar of a multi-year effort that OpenAI launched with Older Adults Technology Services to build practical artificial intelligence skills and strengthen digital literacy through its flagship program, Senior Planet. Internal platform usage data indicates that the share of ChatGPT messages associated with adults aged 55 and older in the United States grew from 6 percent to nearly 10 percent over the past year. Program educators in San Francisco, Oakland, and Walnut Creek noted that older Americans are increasingly adopting conversational tools for lifelong learning, health scheduling, and community organization.

Online safety and fraud deterrence represent core curriculum components of the Older Adults AI Skills Jam, training participants to spot deceptive financial schemes and use ChatGPT as an additional layer of scrutiny and prevention. Platform researchers reported that tens of millions of times each week, people ask ChatGPT for assistance evaluating suspicious text messages, phishing emails, and unfamiliar websites before clicking links or sharing personal records. Senior advocacy groups across Contra Costa and Alameda counties praised the hands-on training model for empowering retirees against sophisticated digital fraud.

County aging commissions and municipal senior center directors in California emphasized that structured, in-person peer instruction is essential for closing generational technology gaps. An advisory committee official with the regional department of aging services noted that combining artificial intelligence literacy with practical scam prevention protects vulnerable residents from financial exploitation. Community grant administrators confirmed that curriculum materials developed during the national workshops will be shared with public library districts and municipal senior programs throughout the Bay Area.

Older adults, family caregivers, and community educators can access free digital safety guides, online workshop schedules, and registration details at seniorplanet.org or through the OpenAI Academy portal at openai.com. Additional virtual training sessions and downloadable anti-scam checklists are available at no cost for senior centers in Berkeley, Concord, and San Jose starting Monday at 9:00 AM. Questions regarding local partner events or Senior Planet instructional resources may be directed to the national participant helpline at (888) 713-3495.