At an age when many resort to popping pills, two pensioners are smiling at a different kind of tablet — a lit-up electronic notebook held by a young boy, presumably their grandson. This AI-generated WhatsApp display picture belongs to Mulund-based Umesh Prabhu, whose new mission is boldly stated on the image: "AI after 60."
AI Enthusiast at 75
At 75, retired mechanical engineer Umesh Prabhu boasts 25 AI apps on his phone, all synced to his tablet for a larger viewing experience. Every month, he spends nearly Rs 20,000 on large language models that help him create photo-aided birthday wishes for fellow septuagenarians and demystify AI for groups of seniors. Just 15 days after launching his website — with the tagline "No coding. No fear" — over 160 seniors have purchased his three-part workbook series. The workbooks use QR codes with illustrations to teach older adults how to harness AI for planning trips or launching second careers. One lesson reassures: "If you can send a WhatsApp message, you are already ready to understand — and use — Artificial Intelligence."
Seniors Embracing AI for Daily Life
A small but growing group of senior citizens across Mumbai is leaning toward AI for reasons beyond coding or careers. While public conversation around AI often focuses on students, software engineers, and job displacement, these veterans are discovering practical uses: uploading health reports, pursuing hobbies, staying mentally engaged, and creating second acts after retirement. "AI is lightning fast, but a retired professor, lawyer, factory manager, or HR executive possesses something AI does not: decades of judgement. Together, they can be a very powerful combination," says Prabhu.
Hitesh Bhagat, a 66-year-old former textile firm employee, recalls a message from Meta AI that checked in on him. His AI journey began last year when he uploaded medical reports and asked about sleep apnea and cholesterol, leading to a two-hour conversation. One suggestion — a memory foam pillow — along with a doctor-prescribed mouthpiece, improved his sleep. "I sleep better," he says. A hobby singer, Bhagat also asks ChatGPT about music. When he questioned whether legendary singer Hemant Kumar pronounced Marathi phonetic sounds correctly in a song, the explanation was detailed and accurate. "It gave me answers in a second. AI will definitely take our jobs if it goes beyond this level, but it's a great tool for seniors as of now if you know what you are seeking," he remarks.
For 67-year-old Malati Balagi, AI has entered family decisions. She recently asked Gemini to suggest an auspicious date for her grandson's mundan (hair-cutting ceremony) based on his birth details. The app advised consulting an astrologer. She also uses voice chat for recipes and corrects the app when it errs, as her son Ravi, an AI researcher, notes.
Prakash Nayak, 75, an active member of senior citizens' associations, uses ChatGPT and image-generation tools to create personalized birthday greetings featuring grey-haired friends in unexpected avatars. "Not all results are suitable for senior citizens," he says dryly, having censored a few "bold" ones. However, his wife remains skeptical: "Most senior citizens aren't interested or tend to fear it. Only about 10 percent use AI in my view. Many stop digital learning after figuring out how to send a video on WhatsApp."
Broader Trends and Cautious Optimism
International surveys support this observation. A recent EY study of over 2,500 adults aged 60–85 across 16 countries found that only about one in four reported being familiar or confident with AI, though just 15 percent had no interest in learning more. Among those willing to experiment, uses go beyond greetings. Prakash Apte, 72, a yoga teacher and business owner who recently studied gerontology at TISS, learned AI through AI itself. After a heart attack, ChatGPT decoded the doctor's handwriting for him. "The doctor doesn't always have time to answer all our questions," says Apte, who now uploads prescriptions into an LLM. Gerontechnologists caution users to be careful with hallucinations when cross-referencing critical medical dosages.
Back in his Thane office, Prabhu is matter-of-fact about risks. "It may be that the fault was in your prompt. Some verification on your part may be needed," he says. His VJTI alumni circle are turning 75 this year, so he creates personalized digital greetings "by having fun with AI." He offers a free module called "Money Saver" — about using AI to save on everyday essentials like medicines — and an annexure on wills. As his teacup empties, his office assistant opens Claude on the laptop, which says, "Welcome, Mr Prabhu."
