My mom is in her 70s and uses AI every day — these are her 5 go-to favorite uses

When people picture someone using AI, they usually imagine a student writing an essay or a developer working on code.

That's not my mom.

She's in her 70s, and AI has become one of the tools she reaches for almost every day. My mom isn't building apps, but she does use AI to generate spreadsheets for her volunteer work. She also uses it to stay safer online and solve everyday problems like hunting down hard-to-find fabric for her quilting.

Watching her use AI so effortlessly makes me proud. Sure, she calls ChatGPT "ChatGap," but other than cute nicknames, seeing her use AI has been a good reminder that the technology doesn't have to be complicated to be useful. In fact, the features she uses most are the ones that save her time or give her confidence before making a decision.

Here are the five ways AI has become part of her daily routine.

1. She checks suspicious messages before clicking anything

Whether it's a text message, an email or even a suspicious invite, my mom has learned that you really can't trust everything on the internet. Besides, as a woman in her 70s, she's exactly the kind of person scammers target. Fake delivery notifications, phishing emails, fraudulent text messages and convincing Facebook posts seem to arrive every week.

Instead of guessing whether something is legitimate, she opens ChatGPT and uses Norton's scam detection capabilities within the app to analyze the message before she clicks a link or responds.

Sometimes she'll paste the text into the chat. Other times she'll upload a screenshot. The extra layer of verification gives her peace of mind, which honestly, gives me some peace of mind, too.

2. She uses photos to find quilting fabric

This might be my favorite use case because I never would have thought of it myself. My mom is an avid quilter. Anyone who sews knows how frustrating it can be when you run out of a particular fabric. Sometimes all that's left is a small scrap with no label or manufacturer.

Instead of spending hours searching online, she simply takes a picture of the fabric and uploads it to ChatGP or Gemini (she clearly has a preference).

The AI identifies colors, patterns and sometimes even the fabric collection or manufacturer. It can also suggest online retailers that might still carry it or recommend similar alternatives if the original has been discontinued. She used to call me to do the ChatGPT detection for her, now, she does it herself. It's like having a fabric expert available whenever she needs one.

3. She asks the kinds of questions people used to Google

Her AI conversations aren't complicated. But she likes to use ChatGPT Voice and ask things like:

Can I eat these leftovers after three days?

How long can cooked chicken stay in the refrigerator?

Can I freeze this before it goes bad?

What's the best way to clean this pan?

Why is my cat staring at me like that?

These aren't life-or-death medical questions, but they're the kinds of everyday decisions that used to send people to a search engine. Now she simply asks in plain English and gets a straightforward answer without digging through multiple websites.

4. She relies on Google Maps — and that's AI, too

I taught my mom how to use Google Maps to find the cheapest gas prices, but she also uses it to help predict traffic, estimate arrival times, suggest faster routes and reroute drivers around accidents or road closures.

It's a reminder that many of us use AI every day without even thinking about it.

5. She uses it for fitness

My mom regularly goes to the gym — much more than me! And she'll often turn to ChatGPT or Gemini for new fitness routines. With a simple prompt like:

I only have 30 minutes today, what workout would be best for me?

I am looking for new walking shoes? I like Brooks, should I stick with those?

She even uses the Apple Music app within ChatGPT to create playlists for her workouts. Impressive, for sure.

Bottom line

My mom also uses ChatGPT just to chat. Sometimes the questions are practical and other times they are more like Beatles trivia or trying to remember the name of the actress she likes in a particular movie.

She'll ask about gardening, recipes, household problems, products she's considering buying or random facts she wonders about during the day. Most importantly, she doesn't worry about writing the "perfect prompt." She simply asks the question the way she'd ask another person.

Ironically, that's probably why my mom gets such useful answers. The point is, AI doesn't have to be complicated despite the perception that it's only for programmers or people who work in technology.

Watching my mom use it every day tells a different story. She isn't trying to automate her life or replace her favorite hobbies. She's using AI to solve small problems that come up throughout the day.

If you're wondering whether AI has a place in your own daily routine — or you're trying to help a parent or grandparent get started — start with one real problem they already have. They might end up using it every day.