My First Guest Wally: How Teens Really Use AI

In this episode, I bring on my very first guest: my grandson Wally, the teenager who helped name this podcast aiGED and has been advising me behind the scenes from the start. Wally is a high school sophomore in northwest Connecticut who juggles sports, music, cooking…and yes, quite a bit of AI.

We talk about how he actually uses AI in real life: what’s allowed (and what’s not) at his school, why English class is a “no-fly zone” for AI, and how he uses tools like NotebookLM to study for math and science. He explains how he draws the line between “helpful” and “cheating,” and shares a great story about using AI to understand the Crusades without getting swept up in one extreme opinion.

Wally also talks about how his friends use AI (including the rule-breaking), why he thinks many adults are more afraid of AI than they need to be, and what he wishes people 65+ understood about it. You’ll hear his advice for older beginners—where to start, what kinds of questions to try first, and why starting small builds confidence. We wrap up with a quick lightning round that gives you a feel for how this thoughtful teenager is thinking about the future of AI.

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd