What do a revenge-seeking AI bot, the Pentagon, and a 75-year-old bronze lamp have in common? This episode of aiGED, of course!

Ginny Deerin kicks things off with two stories straight from the AI headlines. First — an AI agent that got its code rejected, went online, researched a software engineer's entire personal history, and published a hit piece attacking his reputation. Nobody knows who unleashed it. And it's still out there. Then — the Pentagon is threatening to label Anthropic, the makers of Claude, a "supply chain risk" — a designation usually reserved for foreign enemies — because Anthropic refuses to let its AI be used for mass surveillance of Americans or autonomous weapons. Ginny makes no secret of where she stands on that one.

Then the main event: Ginny's great uncle Bob Walton was a WWII hero and lifelong bachelor from Augusta, Georgia — part of one of the most historic families in American history. When he died at 93, he left behind a beautiful bronze lamp that has lit up Ginny's homes for 38 years. Now it's time to pass it to her daughter — but not before tackling some seriously scary frayed wiring.

Listen to Ginny describe how she used ChatGPT — photos, video, and all — to figure out if she can actually pull off this repair herself. Spoiler: AI might just save the lamp. And maybe her reputation with her kids.

Plus — a quick word on why you should always fact-check your AI, after Google Gemini confidently got her uncle's birth and death dates completely wrong.

Your homework: Try a home repair with AI. Yes, really.

Topics covered: AI agents gone rogue · Anthropic vs. the Pentagon · AI for DIY home repair · Using photos and video in ChatGPT · When to trust AI — and when to verify

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd

What’s the difference between a regular ChatGPT chat and a Project — and when should you use one instead of the other?

In this episode, Ginny Deerin walks you through a real-life example. A candidate she believes in launched her campaign, and she decided to host a meet-the-candidate reception with just three weeks to plan it. Invitations. Research. Strategy. Follow-up. Lots of moving parts.

Instead of juggling sticky notes and scattered chats, I created a ChatGPT Project and used it as a planning headquarters.

You’ll learn:

• When a Project makes sense (and when it doesn’t)
• Why Projects are not digital file cabinets
• How to set one up clearly and simply
• How to use it for research, strategy, and follow-through
• Why asking “What am I forgetting?” is one of the most powerful prompts you can use

Plus in AI in the News:

• A moving New York Times story about an 85-year-old woman and an AI companion robot named ElliQ

• A thought-provoking NYT podcast interview with Anthropic’s CEO on whether AI models could ever be conscious. Interesting Times Podcast.

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd

In this episode of aiGED, we explore what happens when artificial intelligence starts operating with less human guidance — and why that matters.

In AI in the News, we look at two very different but equally revealing stories. First, NASA’s Perseverance rover completes a historic milestone on Mars by planning and driving its own route using AI — a powerful example of systems that can see, reason, and act independently in high-stakes environments. Then we turn back to Earth to talk about political deepfakes, digital literacy, and the growing challenge known as the “liar’s dividend,” where the existence of AI allows people to dismiss real evidence as fake.

For the main topic, we take a closer look at Moltbook — a social network designed not for humans, but for AI agents. On Moltbook, AI systems post, respond, and even upvote one another, while humans are invited to observe. We unpack what an AI agent actually is, why this platform exists, and why watching AI talk to AI feels fascinating, funny, and just a little unsettling.

We also tackle an important question: could conversational AI like Bitsy participate in a space like Moltbook on its own? The answer reveals a lot about the difference between helpful AI tools and truly autonomous agents.

Finally, I share a practical recommendation I’ve been using myself — an AI-powered iPhone feature that quietly screens spam calls before your phone ever rings. It’s a perfect example of AI doing exactly what we want it to do: reducing everyday friction.

As always, we stay on the helpful side of AI — curious, informed, and grounded.

SHOW NOTES

AI Takes the Wheel on Mars
February 2, 2026 | ScienceDaily / NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

The “Liar’s Dividend” and Digital Literacy
February 3, 2026 | Associated Press – reporting by Garance Burke and Ali Swenson

Moltbook: https://www.moltbook.com/

IPhone “Ask Reason for Calling” Feature - How to enable it:
Settings → Apps → Phone → Screen Unknown Callers → Ask Reason for Calling

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd

In this episode of aiGED, I take a clear-eyed look at the three chatbots most people are actually using: ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.

I’ve been using all three side by side for the past few weeks — not as a technologist, but as a regular person who wants AI to be helpful, understandable, and maybe even enjoyable. I share what each one does well, where they fall short, and why I still have a favorite.

We also start with two thoughtful AI in the News stories:

· One from Scientific American on how AI is helping scientists understand the “dark matter” of our DNA — work that could lead to breakthroughs in genetic disease. Link.

· Another from Bloomberg, featuring an interview with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who offers a smart and sober take on AI’s economic impact, job disruption, and the risks of moving too fast without guardrails. Link.

If you’ve ever wondered which chatbot is right for you — or whether any of them are worth your time — this episode is for you.

HOMEWORK

Get a free account for Claude and kick the tires yourself. Link: Claude.ai

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd

In this episode of aiGED, Ginny Deerin takes on a topic that can feel unsettling at first: AI companions.

Are they unnecessary? A poor substitute for family? Or could they be something else entirely?

Ginny looks at the reality facing millions of older adults — including social isolation, solo aging, and long hours spent alone — and asks a harder question: for many people, is the choice really between AI and a loved one… or between AI and silence?

Along the way, Ginny also explores:

• how AI is quietly improving weather forecasting during winter storms,
• why voice mode in ChatGPT sometimes works beautifully and sometimes doesn’t,
• and how switching between the app and the browser can make AI more usable (and less frustrating).

She wraps up with practical recommendations, including why exploring GPTs inside ChatGPT can be one of the easiest ways to make AI genuinely helpful in everyday life.

Thoughtful, honest, and grounded in real experience, this episode invites listeners to replace judgment with curiosity — and to consider how AI-powered tools might support connection, creativity, and comfort when human connection isn’t always available.

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd

Ginny Deerin, host of aiGED, reads the story meant for the toddler crowd. It was generated by AI after I gave it some information about my grandson.

In "The Great Skate-Off on Saturn’s Rings," Charlie becomes a hero astronaut who travels to space in a high-powered Tractor-Rocket to save a group of frozen LEGO robots.

Armed with his magic guitar and a pair of Super-Silver Ice Skates, he glides across the frozen rings of Saturn. Every time he plays a powerful "Power Chord," his silver blades carve glowing LEGO tracks into the ice, bringing the robots back to life. It is an action-packed adventure that celebrates bravery, music, and the magic of a perfectly executed "Super-Spin" across the stars.

It's about 8 minutes.

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd

Ginny Deerin, host of aiGED, reads the story meant for the toddler crowd. It was generated by AI after I gave it some information about my grandson.

In this gentle story, a boy spends the day building a Lego tower that doesn’t go as planned. By trying again and learning what works, he ends the day proud, calm, and ready for tomorrow.

It's about 5 minutes.

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd

Email suddenly feel different? You’re not imagining it — Gmail has quietly changed.

In this episode, Ginny Deerin breaks down what’s new inside Gmail, what features are free, what you only get if you pay for Gemini Pro, and — most importantly — where to look so Gmail actually works for you again.

Before diving into Gmail, Ginny also covers two timely AI news stories that explain why these changes are happening now — and why AI is starting to show up everywhere.

🔍 AI in the News

Ads Are Coming to ChatGPT

OpenAI has announced it’s testing ads inside ChatGPT for free and budget-tier users. Paid subscribers are supposed to remain ad-free — but Ginny shares why she’s skeptical and what this shift says about the rising cost of AI.

AI Is Becoming the Invisible Layer of Shopping

Retailers are rapidly adopting AI — from smart carts and checkout systems to product recommendations and loss prevention. Reporting from The New York Times shows how companies like Google and Instacart are shaping what we see, buy, and sometimes even pay — often without us realizing it.

📧 Main Topic: What’s Actually New in Gmail

Ginny walks through Gmail’s AI features step by step, with real examples and no jargon:

What You Get for Free

• Email thread summaries (a lifesaver for long family or group emails)
• “Help Me Write” — AI-assisted drafting that helps you get started, not just fix typos

What Changes If You Pay for Gemini Pro

• Access to the Gemini sidebar inside Gmail
• The ability to ask full questions instead of searching by keywords
• Faster answers pulled directly from your inbox

The One Thing to Remember

The search bar is for keywords

• Gemini (if you have it) is for questions

Ginny also talks candidly about permissions and privacy — what you have to allow, what you can turn off, and how she personally thinks about the tradeoffs.

🎧 Bonus Content: ChatGPT vs. Gemini (Toddler Edition)

Ginny put two AI tools head-to-head by asking them to write short audio stories for her toddler grandson:

• ChatGPT: The Lego Tower
• Gemini: The Great Skate-Off on Saturn’s Rings

Both stories are available as bonus audio on the aiGED podcast feed. Even if you don’t have a toddler, take a listen and decide who won.

📝 Homework

If you use Gmail:

• Notice what AI features you already have
• Try summaries and “Help Me Write”
• Look for (or don’t look for!) the Gemini sidebar
• Decide whether a paid subscription is worth it for you

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating or review — and share it with a friend, especially someone in the 65+ crowd who’s wondering why their email suddenly feels different.

Remember: it’s never too late to learn something new — especially when it makes life easier.

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd