How to explain AI to someone close to you — try one question together

Your loved one asks at the dinner table: what actually is AI?

During a family meal, someone close to you suddenly asks: “What actually is AI?” They sound a little hesitant, as if they are afraid of sounding silly. They have heard the word many times, but no one has taken the time to explain it calmly.

You do not need a perfect definition or a technical explanation. The most helpful thing is to sit side by side for a moment and try one small, useful question together. When your loved one sees for themselves how AI answers an ordinary everyday question, their uncertainty often fades on its own, much more effectively than through any explanation. Similarly, guides for older adults usually approach AI through a few familiar areas of everyday life, such as health, money matters, hobbies and learning, rather than relying on long explanations. That is exactly what this experiment does too: one concrete, useful question at a time.

Do this together — about 10 minutes

1. 1

   Choose a quiet moment and one screen

   Sit side by side so that you can both see the same screen. A laptop, tablet or phone is enough. Open any conversational AI assistant, such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Copilot.

2. 2

   Ask about something they are really curious about

   Together, choose a small everyday question about a real thing your loved one wants an answer to right now, rather than about AI itself.

3. 3

   Watch the response appear together

   The response appears on the screen one word at a time. Read it aloud and discuss whether the suggestion makes sense or whether anything is missing.

4. 4

   Ask a follow-up question straight away in the same conversation

   Ask for the same answer in simpler words or a shorter form. This shows your loved one that the conversation can continue and that they do not have to accept the first answer as it is.

I have a recipe for carrot soup, but I do not have any cream at home. What could I use instead to keep the soup tasting mild and creamy? Suggest two alternatives available in an ordinary shop, and briefly explain how each would change the flavour or texture of the soup.

Explain your previous answer even more simply, as if you were saying it aloud over coffee. Use no more than three short sentences, and do not use any words that would need an explanation of their own.

What just happened?

1. You asked an ordinary question you really wanted answered, rather than a question about AI itself.
2. AI wrote a suggestion directly on the screen, word by word, without either of you having to wait long.
3. You asked for the same answer again in simpler words, and no one had to start over.
4. Your loved one saw that they can guide the conversation: the response is a draft, not a final verdict.

The same idea, two more everyday questions

If the first question felt comfortable, try one or two more during the same session. Let your loved one choose which interests them more.

A glass of red wine has just been knocked over at dinner, leaving a stain on the tablecloth. What home remedies could I try straight away, before putting the cloth in the washing machine? Give me two options using things found in an ordinary kitchen cupboard, and explain which order to try them in.

Explain the word “inflation” simply enough to understand without studying economics. Illustrate it with one everyday example, such as a change in the price of a packet of coffee, and end with one sentence about why it affects ordinary daily life.

Ask AI one ordinary question you really want answered right now, such as a recipe, an everyday problem or the meaning of a word, and look at the answer together.

Once the basics are familiar

Once your loved one has tried a few everyday questions and feels comfortable, you can notice together where AI already appears in their own apps, such as word suggestions on their phone keyboard or the next recommendation from a streaming service. This is a natural next step, and you can do it together too, one small step at a time.