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AI Writers' Studio at Montco SAAC

Mark Clark

By Mark W. Clark, Executive Director


Creativity and AI technology are coming together at Montco SAAC. The result is a pair of mystery novels in the making, sprinkled with a burst of creativity and connection.


Here's the novel developing at the Norristown AI Writers' Studio: A Pennsylvania town is being run by a corrupt mayor, and for the past five years, people have mysteriously disappeared, most of them members of the local senior center. The main protagonist, Monty, a retired government scientist, and his friend Joe are determined to uncover the truth. Their investigation leads them to an abandoned hospital in the next town, where they discover a mysterious formula and a map showing the locations of the disappearances. What is the mayor hiding, and why? This thrilling story is just the beginning.


At Ambler, the mystery takes place on a deserted island. A family from "old railroad money," the Barnes', are trying to reconnect on a resort island. The island was once a thriving resort, but they will soon find it abandoned. The journey is not starting out well. Someone went overboard just a few hours after leaving port for the island. The mysterious "Captain Oliver" may be involved. We can't wait to see how the storyline and characters develop.


Why are there so many inspiring writers at Montco SAAC? The answer is simple: we're all new to story writing and still trying to reckon with our world of artificial intelligence. Together, we're embracing our creativity in partnership with our AI platform of choice, ChatGPT. At each session, the excitement in the room is palpable as we explore the possibilities of this new tool and the creativity of our group.


AI Writing

We know that AI is rapidly becoming a part of everyday life for seniors, from virtual healthcare visits and AI-assisted medical diagnostics to online customer service platforms and smart home devices. This rapid integration feels overwhelming and intimidating for many aging adults and can cause fear and resistance toward new technologies. The members at Montco SAAC have had a series of very useful presentations on all the new "AI Scams" to be weary of. This is important to know, but the unintended result is that some are afraid of AI, seeing it as dangerous technology. At our Norristown site, Evelyn told me, "I'm afraid of AI, and I don't want anything to do with it." Many people at our centers share the same sentiments. We need balance.


So, how do we help seniors understand AI better and see how valuable a tool it can be? Enter the AI Writer's Studio. This program introduces seniors to artificial intelligence in a positive, creative, and approachable way. The system can now verbally interact with our group, offering storyline suggestions and praise for innovative ideas. By collaborating with AI to write stories, participants gain hands-on experience with AI technology while activating their creative minds through storytelling. This program shows our members that AI is not something to fear but a tool they can embrace to enhance their lives. In fact, after our second AI Writers' Studio session, Evelyn stayed after class and told me, "This AI stuff is alright. I never knew it could do so much." It's this kind of optimism and hope that we want to instill in all our members.


What's next?

Montco SAAC is committed to ensuring seniors are not left behind in the digital age. We aim to establish technology labs equipped with tablets, laptops, and virtual collaboration tools where programming like the AI Writers' Studio can thrive. This will allow seniors to explore, create, and connect on their own terms.


If you want to be a part of this journey and support innovative programs like the AI Writers' Studio, your help is invaluable. Please contact hello@montcosaac.org to find out how you can get involved and make a difference in the lives of our seniors.

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