Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely not. Our courses and guides are designed specifically for people with no technical background. We start from scratch and use plain English throughout. If you can send an email and browse the internet, you have all the skills you need to get started.

AI tools from reputable providers like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft are safe for everyday use. The main precautions to take are: never share personal financial information or passwords with AI tools, always verify important facts (AI can occasionally get things wrong), and use common sense just as you would with any internet service. We cover AI safety in detail in all our courses.

AI is changing the workplace, and some types of routine tasks are being automated. However, for most people over 50 who are retired or semi-retired, this is less of a personal concern and more of a social one. The best approach is to understand AI well enough to use it to your advantage rather than feel threatened by it. Our Introduction to AI course addresses this topic in detail.

A traditional search engine like Google finds existing web pages that match your search terms and shows you a list of links. AI assistants like ChatGPT actually understand your question, synthesise information, and give you a direct answer in plain English. You can also have a conversation with an AI — asking follow-up questions, asking it to clarify, or changing direction — which you cannot do with a search engine.

AI can help you understand medical conditions, medications, and legal concepts in plain English, which can be very valuable for preparing for a doctor's appointment or understanding a letter from a solicitor. However, it should never replace professional medical or legal advice. AI can occasionally be wrong, and your individual circumstances matter. Use it as a first source of information, then verify with a qualified professional for anything important.

This is genuinely difficult, and there is no foolproof method. AI-generated text can be very convincing. Some general signs: overly formal or generic language, unusual fluency without personality, hedged statements ("It is important to note that..."), and lack of specific personal details. There are AI-detection tools available but none are perfectly reliable. Healthy scepticism and checking sources remain the best approach.

Our courses are designed for people in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond who are curious about AI but have no technical background. We write every lesson assuming no prior knowledge of computers, smartphones, or technology beyond basic everyday use. If you have ever felt left behind by technology, our courses are for you.

Lifetime access. Once you have purchased a course, you can access it as many times as you like, at any time, with no expiry. There are no subscription fees or renewal charges for course access.

We want you to be completely happy. If you are not satisfied with a purchase, please contact us within 14 days and we will arrange a full refund. We ask only that you tell us what we could have done better so we can improve.

Our courses work on any device with a web browser — desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. We recommend a screen at least as large as a tablet (such as an iPad) for the most comfortable reading experience, but everything will work on a smartphone too.

We accept payment via PayPal, which also allows you to pay by credit or debit card even if you do not have a PayPal account. Payments are processed securely by PayPal — we never see or store your card details.

After completing your purchase, log into your account and go to My Dashboard. Your purchased eBooks will be listed there with a download button. eBooks are provided as PDF files, which can be read on any device, printed out, or saved to read later. You can download them as many times as you like.

Please use our contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Include your email address and a description of the problem and we will help you resolve it. We aim to respond to all enquiries within one working day.

Yes! Our blog contains free articles on AI topics for beginners, our What is AI? guide and AI Tools guide are completely free to read, and creating an account is free. We believe everyone should have access to good information about AI, regardless of budget.