If you’re reading this, you’re probably the “AI person” in your family. You know the drill. You mention something about ChatGPT and suddenly you’re fielding jokes about robots taking over the world. Your uncle makes a Terminator reference. Your grandmother smiles politely but you can tell she’s already checked out.
I get it. I’m that person too.
This article is about two things. First, having a conversation that actually lands – one that reduces fear, sparks a little curiosity, and helps them understand why you’re interested in this stuff. But second, and maybe more important: if you genuinely believe AI could help the people you love, this is about learning how to offer that help in a way they can actually receive.
Because sometimes your mom doesn’t need to understand what a large language model is. She just needs someone patient to sit with her and show her she doesn’t have to figure everything out alone.
The $20 Personal Assistant Analogy
When someone asks “so what’s the deal with AI?” – skip the technical explanation. Their eyes will glaze over before you finish your first sentence about large language models.
Instead, try this:
“Imagine you could hire the smartest person in the world as your personal assistant for $20 a month. They never sleep. They never take breaks. They never complain or judge you for asking what feels like a dumb question. They’ve read basically every book, every article, every manual ever written – and they remember all of it. And they’re patient enough to explain something ten different ways until one finally clicks.”
That’s it. That’s what AI is for most people who use it.
For older family members specifically, you can add: “It’s like having a research librarian, a translator, a proofreader, and a patient tutor all rolled into one. And you’re always in control – it only does what you ask it to do.”
When It Clicked for My Mom
I tried explaining this to my mom recently. She was dealing with a complicated legal situation – contract language, interpretation of laws, that kind of thing. She was thinking about finding a lawyer in person, but I’d seen how professionals sometimes treat older women. Doctors who talk past her like she doesn’t know her own body. Financial advisors who assume she can’t understand numbers.
I told her: “Don’t run around like everything’s on fire. I have a fire extinguisher. Let me help.”
It wasn’t a perfect analogy, but something clicked. The point wasn’t that AI would replace a lawyer – it was that she didn’t have to feel helpless or at the mercy of someone who might not treat her well.
A Simple Demo That Lands
If the conversation is going well and someone seems genuinely curious, a quick demo can be worth a thousand explanations. But pick the right moment – don’t force it.
The key is showing AI helping with their life, not yours.
Ask them: “What’s something you’ve been wondering about lately? Or something you’d normally have to call someone about or Google for twenty minutes?”
Then show them how you’d ask. Let them see the conversational back-and-forth. It’s not scary robot code – it’s just… talking.
Demo ideas that tend to resonate with older audiences:
- “How do I get an app on my TV?”
- “Can my dog eat grapes?”
- “Explain the Medicare changes for 2025 at a high school reading level”
- “Can you find top-rated coffee makers with reviews?”
- “How do I download an app on my iPhone?”
- “Can you help me write a letter to dispute this bill?”
Watch their face when they realize they could just… ask. About anything. Without feeling judged or rushed or talked down to. Without calling a grandkid. Without spending an hour on hold with customer service.
One warning: Don’t turn this into a sales pitch. Show them once, answer their questions, and let it breathe. If they’re interested, they’ll ask more. If not, you planted a seed. That’s enough.
The Real Point
Here’s what I’ve learned: You don’t need your family to become AI users. You don’t need them to download Claude or ChatGPT or sign up for anything.
You just want them to understand why you’re interested – and that you haven’t lost your mind.
The generational divide around technology doesn’t have to be a wall. Sometimes the best outcome from a holiday conversation is simply: “Huh. That’s actually kind of neat.”
That’s a win. Take it.
But if you genuinely believe this technology could help them – and they seem open to it – offer to put on the training wheels. Sit with them. Walk them through it. Help them get past the big scary AI thing they’ve been hearing about on the news. Sometimes people just need someone patient in their corner to try something new.
Why Most Explanations Fail (And What to Avoid)
If you’ve tried explaining AI before and watched it crash and burn, you’re not alone. Here’s what usually goes wrong:
The 1000-yard stare. Any technical talk – how the models work, training data, parameters – and you’ve lost them. It’s not that they’re not smart enough. It’s that you’re answering a question they didn’t ask.
Fear is the undercurrent. When your aunt jokes about Skynet, she’s not really joking. There’s genuine anxiety underneath – about jobs disappearing, about being left behind, about a world changing faster than she can keep up with. The jokes are a defense mechanism.
You’re explaining “how” instead of “what.” Nobody needs to understand how a car engine works to appreciate that it gets them to the grocery store. Same with AI. Lead with what it does for you, not how it does it.
A few things to avoid:
- Don’t lecture. The moment you start monologuing, you become background noise.
- Don’t evangelize. This isn’t a religion. You don’t need converts.
- Don’t get defensive when they joke. Laugh with them. The jokes aren’t really about you.
- Don’t try to win in one conversation. You’re planting seeds, not harvesting crops.
The goal isn’t to be right. It’s to be understood. And sometimes, to just get through the mashed potatoes without becoming a punchline.
Happy Holidays. May your explanations land, your demos impress, and your family see you as more than just “the AI guy.”
And if none of that works? There’s always pie.
Check out How I Used AI to Figure Out My Health Insurance and Finding Calm: How AI Helped Me Sleep Better with Noise Colors for more non-technical ideas to explore AI together.