By Bruce Goldwell
I'm 75 years old, and I have a question for other seniors.
When did we decide that getting older meant we should stop learning, creating, or trying new things?
Everywhere I look, people are talking about artificial intelligence. Some are excited about it. Others are concerned that AI will replace jobs, change society, and make many of the skills people spent a lifetime developing less valuable.
I understand those concerns.
But I also see something else.
I see an opportunity for millions of seniors to do things they may never have imagined possible.
And I believe our lifetime of experience could become one of our greatest advantages.
I've Seen a Lot of Changes in My Lifetime
When I was growing up, we didn't have personal computers, smartphones, or the Internet.
I've watched technology transform the way we communicate, work, shop, and learn.
I've also experienced my share of personal changes.
I served in the United States Army, including a tour in Vietnam. I've worked in different fields, faced difficult circumstances, and even experienced homelessness.
In 2007, I published my first book.
Since then, I've written hundreds of books covering subjects that interest me. I've created websites, produced videos, explored new technologies, and continued finding new ways to share ideas.
Now I'm learning how artificial intelligence can help me accomplish even more.
At 75, I don't consider myself finished.
I still have things I want to learn and things I want to create.
Seniors Have Something AI Doesn't
Artificial intelligence can gather information, explain complicated subjects, suggest ideas, and help people learn new skills.
But information is not the same as lived experience.
Think about everything you've learned throughout your life.
Maybe you raised a family, served your country, owned a business, worked in a trade, taught children, cared for others, or overcame challenges that once seemed impossible.
You learned lessons along the way.
You developed judgment.
You discovered what works and what doesn't.
Those experiences still have value.
And now we have technology that can help us put some of that knowledge to work in new ways.
AI has information. Seniors have experience. Imagine what we might accomplish by combining the two.
What Is a Polymath?
A polymath is someone who develops knowledge or abilities across multiple fields.
Leonardo da Vinci is a famous example. He explored art, anatomy, engineering, and invention.
Benjamin Franklin was another. His interests included science, publishing, diplomacy, and public service.
Most of us won't become another Leonardo da Vinci, and we don't need to.
But we can remain curious.
We can learn new subjects.
We can connect knowledge from different areas of our lives.
And we can use modern technology to help us explore ideas that once seemed beyond our reach.
That's the central idea behind my new book, POLYMATH: Unlocking Your Potential in the Age of Super Intelligence.
What I Mean by Super Intelligence
When I use the term Super Intelligence, I'm talking about the potential created when human intelligence works together with artificial intelligence.
I call that partnership SI.
The human brings experience, creativity, curiosity, judgment, and purpose.
AI can help with research, explanations, brainstorming, organization, and learning.
Together, they can make it easier for one person to accomplish things that previously required much more time or assistance.
That doesn't mean AI is always correct.
It isn't.
We still need to question information, verify important facts, and make our own decisions.
But we don't have to fear every new technology simply because it's unfamiliar.
We can learn how to use it.
The human is the polymath. SI is the amplifier.
What Could You Do With AI?
Imagine you're retired and have always wanted to write a book about your life.
AI could help you organize your memories, develop an outline, and work through the writing process.
Perhaps you've always wanted to learn about astronomy, history, gardening, or computers.
AI could become a learning partner that explains unfamiliar ideas and helps you explore those subjects at your own pace.
Maybe you have decades of experience in a particular profession and would like to share what you've learned.
AI could help you organize that knowledge into articles, educational materials, or a website.
Or perhaps you simply want to keep your mind active and discover something new.
That's a worthwhile goal, too.
Not every activity needs to produce income or become a business.
Sometimes the joy of learning is reason enough.
I've Created a Free POLYMATH Learning Center
To accompany my new book, I've created a free online Learning Center.
You don't have to buy the book to use it.
The website includes three interactive resources:
25 Practical SI Prompts
Ideas for conversations you can have with AI to explore your interests, develop skills, and discover new possibilities.
The 30-Day Polymath Challenge
A simple way to spend a little time each day exploring new subjects and expanding your knowledge.
Discover Your Polymath Path
An interactive questionnaire designed to help you identify interests, strengths, and possible directions for learning.
You can explore everything here:
https://www.mykindlebooks.net/polymath/
I've also shared a press announcement about the book:
Your Next Chapter May Surprise You
There was a time when people thought retirement meant stepping away from the productive part of life.
But I don't believe curiosity has a retirement age.
I don't believe creativity expires at 65.
And I certainly don't believe we should stop exploring new possibilities simply because we've lived a few more decades than someone else.
At 75, I know there are still things I haven't learned.
There are still ideas I haven't explored.
And there are still projects I haven't created.
Perhaps the same is true for you.
Artificial intelligence is changing the world. We can't control every change, but we can decide whether we want to explore the opportunities it creates.
Your age doesn't determine the limits of your curiosity.
Your experience still matters.
Your ideas still matter.
And your next great discovery may still be ahead of you.
What are you willing to learn next?
Bruce Goldwell is a Vietnam veteran and author of hundreds of books. His new book, POLYMATH: Unlocking Your Potential in the Age of Super Intelligence, explores lifelong learning, human potential, and the partnership between human intelligence and AI.
Free Learning Center: https://www.mykindlebooks.net/polymath/
