Plain answers about AI. No hype, no fear.
Built for our class at the Senior Center. Everything here is written in plain English and checked against trusted sources.
The "grandchild voice" phone call
Scammers can now copy a family member's voice from a short video clip and call you sounding exactly like them, asking for money urgently. The voice is fake. The panic is the trick.
The rule: Hang up and call your family member back at the number you already have. A real emergency survives a two-minute callback.
📖 Class Materials
Handouts and slides from each session, posted after class so you can review at home.
🔍 Check a Scam
Got a strange call, email, or text? Answer five quick questions before you click or reply.
🔗 Trusted Links
Hand-picked resources: FTC fraud alerts, AARP Fraud Watch, and our San Mateo County helplines.
✉️ Ask Robert
Send a question and I'll answer it in class or in the monthly email. No question is too small.
📖 Class Materials
Our 4-week class: What's All This AI About? Handouts and slides are posted here after each Tuesday session. Printed copies are always available in class — you never need a computer to keep up.
AI Without the Hype Posted after class
What AI is (and isn't), in plain terms. Where you already use it every day — voice assistants, fraud detection at your bank, and more. Our class mantra: useful AI, minimal exposure, human verification.
AI in Daily Life & Aging in Place Posted after class
Practical helpers: reminders, health questions done safely, staying independent at home. What to try, what to skip, and how to keep your private information private.
Scams, Deepfakes & Self-Defense Posted after class
The heart of the course. Voice cloning, fake videos, AI-written phishing emails — how to spot them and the simple habits that defeat them.
Your Personal AI Safety Plan Posted after class
We put it all together: your family code word, your callback rule, your trusted-numbers card, and a one-page plan you take home.
Missed a class? Materials stay posted here all season, and printed copies are at the Senior Center front desk.
🔍 Check a Scam
Got a call, text, email, or pop-up that feels off? Answer these five questions honestly. Then read your result — before you click, reply, or pay anything.
The 5-Question Check
Tap Yes or No for each one.
1. Did they contact you first — out of the blue?
2. Are they rushing you? ("Act now," "today only," "don't hang up")
3. Are they asking for money, gift cards, wire transfer, or crypto?
4. Are they asking for passwords, codes, Social Security, or bank numbers?
5. Did they say to keep it secret from family or your bank?
Remember the big three
The callback rule: hang up, look up the real number yourself, and call back. A real emergency survives a two-minute callback.
🔗 Trusted Links & Phone Numbers
Every resource here is hand-picked and verified. Phone numbers are just as good as websites — don't hesitate to call.
If something just happened — report it
Learn about AI scams — trusted education
Local help with technology
✉️ Ask Robert
No question is too small — if you're wondering about it, so is someone else in class.
Three easy ways to ask:
1. Email me. Write to the address below — or tap the button and your email app will open with everything filled in.
Email Robert
2. Bring it to class. Tuesdays 1:00–2:00 PM at the Senior Center. We save time every week for questions.
3. Write it down. Drop a note in the question box at the front of the classroom — you can stay anonymous.
One promise: I will never email you asking for money, passwords, or personal information. If you get an email like that "from me," it isn't me — and it's a great thing to bring to class.