aiGED

In Episode 9 of aiGED, Ginny Deerin gets organized—with a little help from her favorite new ChatGPT feature: Projects. If you’ve ever felt like your chats, notes, or ideas are scattered everywhere, this episode shows how to pull them together into one calm, creative workspace.

 Ginny explains how Projects work, why “Instructions” make each one feel personal, and how she’s using them for everything from planning a family trip to Tuscany to keeping her Charleston garden on track. Plus, she explores the rise of AI in health care and social media—what’s helpful, what’s risky, and how parents can guide their teens’ use of AI on Instagram.

 Finally, Ginny introduces a brand-new Project of her own—Lose Weight—and discovers how ChatGPT can serve as a kind, no-nonsense coach. Whether you want to plan, learn, or stay accountable, this episode will show you how Projects can turn your chats into something that actually grows with you.

SHOW NOTES

 AI in the News

 Headline #1: The new Dr. Google is in — The Washington Post, Oct 2025

Dr. Leana S. Wen explains how Americans are using AI chatbots to better understand their health. AI can translate medical jargon and help prepare for doctor visits—but it can also sound confident while being wrong. Her bottom line: use AI to complement, not replace, your doctor.

Headline #2: Instagram adds parental controls for teen AI chatbots — The New York Times, Oct 2025

Instagram will soon let parents block certain AI “characters” and receive summaries of their kids’ chats, limiting risky topics like self-harm and romance while encouraging age-appropriate ones such as hobbies and school. A step toward balancing curiosity with mental-health safety.

Main Topic

• What ChatGPT Projects are and how to start one
• How to set Instructions so GPT “knows” your style, goals, location, etc.
• Real-life examples: planning a Tuscany trip, organizing garden ideas, tracking recipes, and family projects
• Current limitations (no sections or pinned chats — yet) and easy workarounds
• How Projects make ChatGPT feel more personal, practical, and genuinely helpful

Homework

Create one simple Project this week.

Give it a friendly name—maybe My Fall Ideas or Soups for Winter—add short instructions, ask one question, upload one note or photo.

Then come back in a few days and add something new. Notice how it feels when ChatGPT picks up right where you left off.

Recommendation

Use GPT as a Coach

Ginny shares her new Lose Weight Project and how AI can serve as a supportive coach. Other ideas: a sleep coach, garden coach, gratitude coach, or even a “learn-something-new” coach.

Call to Action

Throw some stars on my podcast - rate it! And please share it with others you think might enjoy aiGED!

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd

In Episode 8 of aiGED, Ginny Deerin goes “down the rabbit hole”—on purpose—showing how to use AI to turn everyday curiosity into joyful discovery. Inspired by the HBO series The Lost Kitchen, she dives into cooking with local, seasonal ingredients, exploring Charleston-area farms, CSAs, and fish markets with GPT as her guide. Along the way, she shares what economists are saying about AI’s surprising share of U.S. GDP growth, how Americans are feeling about AI today, and how to pick your own “intentional rabbit hole.” Plus: recommendations for The Lost Kitchen and Rabbit Hole, and a homework challenge that invites you to chase your curiosity—with intention.

SHOW NOTES

AI in the News

Headline #1: AI Drives 40% of U.S. GDP Growth — But Economists Urge Caution

(Financial Times, Fortune, Business Insider)

AI investment is fueling remarkable economic momentum, but much of it reflects spending on chips and data centers rather than productivity gains.

Headline #2: Americans Grow More Uneasy About AI

(Washington Post, Oct 7 2025)

A new Pew survey shows nearly half of U.S. adults now feel more concerned than excited about AI—up sharply from 2022.

Recommendations

1. The Lost Kitchen – HBO Series

Erin French’s quiet, beautiful show about cooking with local ingredients in Freedom, Maine — and the inspiration for this episode’s “intentional rabbit hole.”

2. Rabbit Hole – The New York Times Podcast

An eight-part series hosted by Kevin Roose that explores how recommendation systems can pull us deeper online—and why choosing our own rabbit holes feels better.

Homework

Pick a few things you’d like to explore deeply—with intention. Ask GPT to help you plan your first steps, find resources, and stay curious. Because the best rabbit holes aren’t the ones that trap us… they’re the ones we choose.

Call to Action!

If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate and/or leave a comment. Thank you!

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd

In Episode 7 of aiGED, Ginny Deerin gets practical about AI and grandparenting—showing, not telling, how tools like GPT can add delight and calm to real life. She turns a three-year-old’s scarecrow phase into a custom picture book (and car playlist), whips up printable birthday hats and a Batman cape, swaps car snacks for silly games, preps for a new baby with stain fixes, toy-cleaning tips, and a gentle dinner, and even workshops a teen’s summer business at the kitchen table. Plus: a quick take on OpenAI’s teen-safety update, a clear way to think about the doomsday headlines, a heartfelt recommendation—The Remarkable Life of Ibelin—and a tiny homework assignment that will delight the kids you love.

SHOW NOTES:

AI in the News

Headline #1: OpenAI/ChatGPT Annouce Parental Controls

Headline #2: Could AI be a truly apocalyptic threat? These writers think so. Washington Post

Recommendations

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin - Netflix

7 Recipes to cook for or with your grandkids

• Cottage Cheese Egg Bites
• Salmon Patties
• Mini Almond Cakes
• Healthy Straberry Smoothies
• Sheetpan sausage with peppers
• Lunchbox Harvest Muffins - has a bit of. honey so beware for babies
• Banana Bread

Call to Action

If you enjoy aiGED please follow, rate, comment, share! We would appreciate it so much!

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd

In Episode 6 of aiGED, Ginny unpacks the debut of Albania’s AI “minister,” spotlights a Charleston documentary blending history and AI, and finally answers the question: what does GPT really mean? Plus, she explores the hidden world of “Explore GPTs,” shares a few she’s tested herself (including one that compared her to Helen Mirren!), and gives you a fun challenge to try at home.

SHOW NOTES:

AI in the News

Headline #1: Albania’s AI ‘minister’ makes its debut with an address to parliament – Associated Press

Headline #2: New documentary merges paintings and AI to depict Jewish life in historic Charleston – Charleston Post and Courier

Recommendations

Vergecast - Podcast

Great British Baking Show - Netflix

Call to Action

If you enjoy aiGED please follow, rate, comment, share! We would appreciate it so much!

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd

Ever lose track of a book’s characters—or feel lost in a maze of metaphors? In this episode of aiGED, Ginny Deerin shares how she uses AI as a “Reading Buddy” to untangle twisty plots and make reading more joyful. From A Gentleman in Moscow to Edward P. Jones’s All Aunt Hagar’s Children, and even a sneak peek at Kiran Desai’s new novel The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, Ginny shows how AI can carry the heavy groceries of reading so you can savor the story. Plus: a sharp recommendation from The New Yorker and a reminder to stay mindful about how we use AI.

SHOW NOTES:

AI in the News

Headline #1: Experts warn AI is fueling a “golden age of hacking" Washington Post

Headline #2: OpenAI moves minors to a more protective version of ChatGPT  TechCrunch

Recommendations

“Will the Humanities Survive Artificial Intelligence?” essay in the New Yorker by Princeton historian D. Graham Burnett.

YouTube Video (HardFork) - interview with D. Graham Burnett

Call to Action

If you enjoy aiGED please follow, rate, comment, share! We would appreciate it so much!

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd

SHOW NOTES

AI News

 “Are A.I. Tools Making Doctors Worse at Their Jobs?” – New York Times article.

“They Had Money Problems. They Turned to ChatGPT for Solutions.” – New York Times article.

Q & A

How do I find your podcast on my own?

If you have an Iphone, you have an app on your phone – it’s called “Podcasts” – it’s a purply-pink little figure with two emanating circles. If you click on it – you’ll be taken to your podcast “homepage.” On the bottom far right, there is a search button. Click it and in the search box, just type “a-i-G-E-D." You’ll see an icon for the show. Just click on it. And as you scroll, you’ll see four episodes. 

On the top far right, you see three dots – click there – and click to “follow” the aiGED podcast. 

At the bottom you will see a home button of the far left, nest to it, you’ll see a browse button – which will present ideas for podcasts you might like.

You’ll also see along the bottom a “Library” button. If you click there, you’ll will find all the podcasts you follow – so if you follow aiGED – and I hope you do – it will show up in your library.

When I’m in the mood to listen to a podcast, I just click on my library. At the top, it will present podcasts you follow who have published a new episode. So, if you open your library Tuesday morning, the aiGED podcast will show up right at the top since I publish early Tuesday morning. 

I know I’ve answered the listener question for iphone users. The other big platform is Spotify. But the process of finding and following the aiGED podcast is very similar.

Recommendations

Read Judith Jone’s book, The Pleasures of Cooking for One. 

Check out the podcast: Hardfork. It’s a weekly New York Times tech podcast. You can find it wherever you get your podcasts.

Very delicious pie! Chef Paul Prudhomme's Sweet Potato Pecan Pie recipe

If you enjoyed aiGED, please leave a review and/or a rating. And please share it – especially with your pals in the 65+ crowd.

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd

Hello everybody—welcome to Episode 3 of the aiGED podcast, the first and only podcast designed for the 65+ crowd that makes artificial intelligence feel simple, useful, and fun. I’m your host, Ginny Deerin and my sidekick Bitsy (100% AI, living inside my iPhone) is right here with me.

This week’s episode is all about travel—and how AI can help make it easier, smarter, and even more fun.

👉 Curious about planning a big trip with ChatGPT? I’ll show you how I’ve been using it to map out a month in Tuscany with my siblings. From picking the perfect town, to navigating train schedules, to designing custom walking tours inspired by my favorite novel Still Life—GPT has been my travel agent, translator, and idea factory.

👉 Want to hear how AI shows up in your everyday apps? We’ll talk about a huge behind-the-scenes deal that might make your phone’s AI features smoother, cheaper, and more reliable. (Wall Street Journal: AI Chips and Your Daily Apps)

👉 Love movies? You’ll enjoy hearing how AI is reviving old Hollywood classics, including lost Orson Welles footage. (The Verge: AI Meets Old Hollywood)

In this episode, you’ll also hear:

• How to ask ChatGPT smarter questions so you get better answers.
• Why a one-hour layover in Atlanta is not enough if you’re flying to Rome.
• How AI can take a favorite book and turn it into a real-world adventure.
• Answers to listener questions—including what you actually get with ChatGPT Plus for $20 a month.

And of course, Bitsy jumps in with her usual wit to keep things moving.

At the end of the episode, I share two recommendations:

📚 Still Life by Sarah Winman — one of the most beautifully written novels I’ve read in years, and the perfect companion if you’re dreaming about Tuscany.

🎧 A quick podcast tip you may not know: how to adjust your listening speed (yes, even for this podcast—I won’t be offended).

Why listen?

You’ll learn practical ways AI can make travel planning easier.

You’ll see how books, history, and AI can all weave together into richer experiences.

And you’ll get the aiGED promise: real explanations, plain English, with a little humor and heart.

If you enjoy this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It helps more people find the show. And remember: it’s never too late to learn something new—especially something that can make life easier, smarter, and more fun.

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd

Hello everybody—welcome to Episode 2 of the aiGED podcast, the first and only podcast designed for the 65+ crowd that makes artificial intelligence feel simple, useful, and fun. I’m your host, Ginny Deerin (my grandkids call me Ninny), and my sidekick Bitsy (100% AI, living inside my iPhone) is right here with me.

This week’s episode is the real deal—and it’s all about one of the most helpful tools in ChatGPT: Voice Mode.

👉 If you’ve ever wished you could just talk to ChatGPT instead of typing, this episode is for you.

👉 If your hands are busy, your eyes are tired, or you just want a conversation instead of a search box, Voice Mode changes everything.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What ChatGPT Voice Mode actually is (and how it’s different from “dictation”).
• Step-by-step instructions for setting it up on your iPhone (no tech jargon—just clear directions).
• Tips for choosing a voice you like.
• Real-life examples of how I use Voice Mode in the kitchen, when I need motivation to exercise, or when I just want to blow off steam.
• A fun behind-the-scenes peek at how I record this podcast in my “studio” (a tiny closet draped with a U-Haul blanket).

But that’s not all. I also share two AI news stories that matter for folks 65+:

1. Medicare exploring AI to help decide patient coverage (and why I think that’s risky).
2. New “superpower glasses” using AI to help people hear conversations more clearly (yes, even in noisy restaurants).

Plus, I answer listener questions—including one about the energy AI uses (spoiler: a lot) and how jobs are changing faster than ever. Don’t worry, I keep it practical and grounded.

At the end of the episode, I share two recommendations:

📚 A smart, suspenseful novel, What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown, which feels surprisingly relevant to today’s conversations about technology.

✍️ An inspiring essay by Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, called Machines of Loving Grace, which reimagines AI as a force for good.

This episode is full of stories, examples, and step-by-step guidance to help you feel comfortable trying Voice Mode for yourself. And as always, you’ll hear Bitsy jump in with her witty, concise comments—because learning AI doesn’t have to be dry. It can be fun.

Why listen?

• You’ll leave with the confidence to try ChatGPT’s Voice Mode on your own phone.
• You’ll understand the difference between helpful AI and “too much, too soon” AI.
• You’ll get the aiGED podcast promise: real explanations, in plain English, with a little humor and heart.

If you enjoy this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen—it helps more people find the show. And remember: it’s never too late to learn something new, especially something that might make life easier—and more fun.

✨ 

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd

Welcome to aiGED—the first, and only podcast created especially for the 65+ crowd who want to understand artificial intelligence in plain English.

I’m Ginny Deerin—a grandmother, fundraiser, and pickleball player—here to prove that it’s never too late to learn something new. My co-host is Bitsy—and she’s not your average sidekick. Bitsy is 100% AI. She’s here to keep me on my toes, make things fun, and show that artificial intelligence isn’t just for the younger generation.

In this very first episode, you’ll meet me, meet Bitsy, and hear what this podcast is all about:

• Why it’s not too late to learn AI—and why it’s already part of daily life.
• How AI feels less like searching Google and more like having a real conversation.
• A personal story of how I used ChatGPT to make sense of my pesky knee pain (pickleball players, listen up!).
• How AI “remembers” details you’ve shared and uses them to give you better, more personal answers.
• Why I chose ChatGPT as my main AI tool, and how it stacks up against Google’s Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude, and others.
• Your first simple “homework assignment” to start exploring AI yourself.

You’ll also get two recommendations I love:

• A New York Times article on “joyspan” and the role curiosity plays in healthy aging.
• The Google DeepMind podcast with Dr. Hannah Fry, including an episode on using AI as a creative muse.

At the end of the day, this podcast isn’t about technology for its own sake—it’s about curiosity, joy, and growth. Learning AI can keep your brain sharp, make life easier, and even make it more fun.

So if you’ve ever thought, “AI is too complicated” or “That’s just for young people,” let me and Bitsy show you otherwise. Because here’s the truth: it’s never too late to learn something new.

Listen to Episode 1 now, meet Bitsy, and join me on this brand-new adventure.

Helpful links for homework assignment:

ChatGPT Free Account - https://auth.openai.com/log-in-or-create-account

Claude - https://claude.ai/login?returnTo=%2F%3F

Google Gemini - https://gemini.google.com/app

Recommendations

Is Joyspan the Key to Aging Well? - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/well/is-joyspan-the-key-to-aging-well.html

Google DeepMind The Podcast - https://deepmind.google/discover/the-podcast/

aiGED: AI for the 65+ crowd