I have to laugh when people look surprised that I, at 70 years old, am not just using AI – I’m actually pretty obsessed with it.
But here’s the thing: I’ve been troubleshooting software since the DOS days in the ’90s. Back then, when systems crashed in the middle of the night and I had no IT help, I learned to dig in and figure things out myself. That same curiosity that made me diagnose tax problems and fix broken software is exactly what drew me to AI.
Because here’s what I’ve learned: AI is just software. And like all software, it promises you the moon but rarely delivers everything perfectly. That’s why I don’t rely on just one tool – I test them all and use four regularly.
My AI Toolkit: Four Tools, Each With a Purpose
After extensive testing, I’ve settled on four AI tools that I use regularly. Each one serves a specific purpose in my workflow:
ChatGPT – This is where I start because I’ve built it out with all my models, services, and approach. It knows how I work, so it gives me a good foundation for any project.
Claude – When ChatGPT gives me something that’s close but not quite polished enough, I take it to Claude. It consistently gives me more refined, professional results that feel ready to share.
Perplexity – This is my research powerhouse. I love that it always gives me citations, so when I need statistics or want to back something up, I can trace exactly where the information came from.
Grok – Great for research too, and I’ve used it for some surprisingly personal things. When I had an MRI of my ankle and couldn’t understand a word my doctor was saying about all the different injuries, I uploaded the MRI report to Grok and asked it to explain everything in layman’s terms. Finally, I could understand what was wrong and make informed decisions about my treatment.
How This Actually Works: A Real-World Example
Let me share a recent example that shows how I use these tools together.
I was preparing for a pitch competition. Yes, at 70, I’m just learning how to pitch! Last year was my first time ever, and I wanted to do better this year.
I started by creating the pitch foundation in ChatGPT using all my established models and expertise. But something wasn’t quite right – it wasn’t sitting well with me.
So I took it to Claude and said, “Here’s my draft pitch, here are the judging criteria, and I need more emotion in three minutes. Can you improve it?”
Not only did Claude give me a better draft, but when I kept pushing back with “I’m running over time” and “How do we tweak this?”, it became like having a pitch coach. It told me where to pause, what to do with my hands, how to use my voice for emphasis. It even explained why certain phrases were bolded in the script – for emphasis and vocal cues.
The first time I pitched last year, I didn’t know until the day before that I’d be using a handheld mic instead of a lapel mic. I hadn’t practiced standing or holding anything. This year, AI walked me through all of that preparation.
And when I got nervous and said, “I’m really stressed about remembering all these hand gestures and vocal techniques,” it actually toned down its advice and simplified everything so I could focus on what mattered most.
If You’re Intimidated by AI, Start Here
I get it – new technology can feel overwhelming. But here’s my advice for getting started:
Don’t worry too much about privacy for basic tasks. I’m careful about financial data or private information because I’m in the accounting industry. But for research, brainstorming, or things you could easily Google anyway? AI is incredibly helpful.
Just start exploring. Both ChatGPT and Claude will give you prompts to get started. Ask questions. Tell them about yourself and your business. Say something like: “I own a small business and I’m a beginner with AI tools. I’m intimidated by technology. Can you help me figure out where to start?”
Pay for the tools you use. Even if it’s just $20 a month, I don’t like free versions because I feel like you become the product when you’re not paying. Plus, paid versions give you more features and better privacy protections.
Edit and refine everything. I rarely use AI responses exactly as they come. I edit and refine over and over. But AI gives me a framework to think through problems creatively before I need to bring in human help or make bigger decisions.
The Bottom Line
The key is remembering that AI isn’t magic – it’s a tool. A really powerful one that can help you brainstorm, research, and solve problems more efficiently than you ever thought possible.
Even at 70.
If I can master multiple AI tools and use them to improve my business and my life, so can you. The question isn’t whether you’re too old, too inexperienced, or too intimidated. The question is: what problem do you want to solve first?
Start there. Pick one AI tool. Ask it one question. And see where the conversation takes you.
You might be surprised at what you discover.
