Workshop 15: Ageing Well in a Digital Age: Exploring Conversations with AI

📅 Workshop 15: Ageing Well in a Digital Age: Exploring Conversations with AI | 🕚 Friday 6 March 2026, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm |📍 St Michael's Church Hall, Aughton

On 6 March 2026, we held our Ageing Better with an Active Mind workshop, exploring everyday experiences of communicating with AI. The session opened with a familiar scenario - trying to explain a problem to an automated system, only to be met with “I’m sorry, I didn’t understand that.” It’s something many of us have experienced.

Led by Dr Sarah Wu, the session sparked an engaging discussion among members of the Aughton and Ormskirk u3a group. Participants shared similar frustrations with systems used in banking, healthcare, and other services, particularly when it’s difficult to be understood or to reach a real person.

The conversation highlighted an important point: the challenge is often not a lack of interest in AI, but how these systems are designed. When interactions feel rigid or unclear, confidence can quickly be lost.

Together, we explored ways to communicate more effectively with AI, discussed potential risks such as scams, and considered how research on human–AI dialogue can support the design of clearer, more inclusive systems.

The session emphasised that as AI becomes part of everyday life, it’s essential that it works for everyone and supports confidence and wellbeing as we age.