Our perspectives on Change - Is AI going to make a difference?

Episode 8 of the When the f**k did I become old? podcast, hosted by Jo Parker, titled " Our perspectives on Change - Is AI going to make a difference?" was published on January 16, 2026 and runs 34 minutes.

January 16, 2026 ·34m · When the f**k did I become old?

Summary

In this episode, we dive headfirst into one of the biggest changes of our time: AI.Jo believes AI is moving fast and could be dangerous if left unchecked. Kev? Not convinced and frankly a bit exhausted by constant change.From black-and-white TVs to ChatGPT, VHS barcode pens to Alexa paranoia, we explore how different generations adapt (or don’t), whether AI really threatens jobs or humanity itself and why fatigue, scepticism, and “I just can’t be arsed” might be the most honest response of all.Funny, sharp and unfiltered this is a real conversation about ageing, tech, fear, curiosity, and knowing when to lean in… and when to say no.Key TakeawaysAI feels revolutionary, but so did the internet, mobile phones and Sky TVChange fatigue is real, especially after decades of adaptingAI will replace easy work, not human judgmentCritical thinking will matter more than everAI poses risks around misinformation, fraud, and emotional manipulationThe biggest danger may not be Skynet, but the exploitation of vulnerable peopleYou don’t have to love AI to accept it’s hereCuriosity beats panic (and denial)Timestamps00:29 – Our attitudes to change, in particular to AI01:25 – Kev admits he’s an AI Philistine, he agrees he should know more02:32 – Growing up without phones, internet, or streaming and with black & white TVs03:29 – VHS recorders, barcode pens & early tech miracles04:28 – People said the internet “would never catch on”05:14 – Home automation – The internet of things06:52 – Change fatigue: “How many times can we relearn everything?”07:50 – AI at work: productivity tools & human oversight08:40 – Will AI take our jobs? The “easy work” argument10:30 – AI hallucinations and critical thinking11:24 – What the “big boys” are worried about11:57 – Creativity, charts & AI-generated music, what is real13:16 – AI avatars, grief & replacing dead loved ones14:02 – Kev’s glamourous AI version of Jo15:00 –Useful for the elderly16:06 – Humanoid robots and avatars16:54 – Fraud, FaceTime scams & the elderly17:54 – Cold War fears vs AI panic22:05 – The race to AGI & East vs West24:26 – Medical AI, wearables & privacy dilemmas27:23 – When tech fails the people it’s meant to help28:35 – Jo’s real-life AI uses for podcasts & business31:41 – Kev’s current use of AI and his commitment for 2026Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Follow us onInstagram https://www.instagram.com/whenthefkdidibecomeold/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WhenthefkdidIbecomeold/Email us [email protected]  

Episode Description