AI Confidence Circlefor seniors.
A seniors-led community learning pilot for adults 55+.
AI is arriving fast. So are new scams, confusing online services, and pressure to keep up with tools that were never designed with older adults in mind. AI Confidence Circle for Seniors helps adults 55+ learn in a safe, practical, social setting — with seniors helping shape the program from the beginning.
Why seniors first?
Closest to the risks. Rich in lived experience.
Applied AI Works Canada is building practical AI learning for everyday Canadians. Our first pilot focuses on adults 55+ because this group is often closest to the real-world risks and barriers: scam exposure, online banking and government-service confusion, isolation, privacy concerns, and fear of getting left behind. Adults 55+ are also ideal peer mentors — they bring judgment, lived experience, and community trust.
Designed by seniors, for seniors
Shaped by a Seniors Advisory Circle.
This pilot will be shaped by a Seniors Advisory Circle. Seniors will help identify the real barriers, review plain-language materials, test activities, co-host sessions, and mentor other seniors. The program will not simply recruit seniors as participants after the fact; seniors will play a vital role in design and delivery.
What the pilot will do
Four focus areas.
Safe AI Basics
Plain-language sessions on what AI is, what it can and cannot do, how to ask useful questions, and what not to share.
Explore what you'll learn →Scam and Fraud Awareness
Practical education on AI-enabled scams, phishing, fake bank/CRA messages, romance scams, investment scams, voice-cloning fraud, and how to pause and verify before acting.
Explore what you'll learn →Digital Confidence for Daily Life
Guided practice using AI and digital tools to organize appointments, prepare questions, understand forms, access services, write messages, and manage everyday tasks.
Explore what you'll learn →Peer Learning and Social Connection
Small-group learning circles, senior peer mentors, practice labs, coffee/social time, and a final community feedback session.
Explore what you'll learn →What participants will leave with
Tangible confidence, not theory.
- A plain-language AI safety checklist
- A scam recognition checklist
- Safe example prompts they can reuse
- Practice using AI for everyday tasks
- Stronger confidence with online tools
- Better ability to pause, verify, and protect personal information
- Increased connection with peers
- A personal digital confidence plan
What this is not
Education, not advice.
This program does not provide personal financial advice, legal advice, tax advice, investment advice, or technical repair services. It provides education, digital confidence, online-safety awareness, scam-prevention learning, and guided practice.
Proposed 8-week pilot
A patient, sequenced arc.
- Week 01
Seniors Advisory Circle and needs session
- Week 02
AI basics without fear
- Week 03
Privacy, safety, and what not to share
- Week 04
Scam and fraud awareness
- Week 05
Using AI for everyday organization
- Week 06
Accessing services and understanding forms
- Week 07
Peer practice lab
- Week 08
Community showcase, feedback, and next-step planning
Who this is for
Adults 55+ ready to feel more confident.
This first pilot is for adults 55+ who want to feel more confident using AI, online tools, digital services, and scam-prevention strategies. The pilot will prioritize seniors who feel digitally excluded, isolated, overwhelmed, low-income, newcomers, living alone, caregiving, disabled, or concerned about online fraud and financial abuse.
Grant-aligned goals
Built to align with senior-serving funders.
This pilot is designed to support senior social participation, peer mentoring, digital safety, scam and financial-abuse awareness, and practical confidence with online tools. At least 80% of direct participants will be adults 55+.
How we will measure success
Clear, reportable outcomes.
- Number of seniors participating
- Number of senior advisors recruited
- Number of senior peer mentors trained
- Number of workshops delivered
- Pre/post confidence survey
- % reporting improved scam awareness
- % reporting improved digital confidence
- % reporting increased social connection
- Number of plain-language resources distributed
- Number of community partners engaged
We are seeking
Come build this pilot with us.
- Adults 55+ to join the Seniors Advisory Circle
- Seniors interested in becoming peer mentors
- Community centres, libraries, seniors' groups, housing providers, and local organizations to host sessions
- Volunteers to support practice labs
- Funders and sponsors
- Partners serving isolated or vulnerable seniors
Community partners
Host a pilot or write a letter of support →
Libraries, senior centres, faith groups, Legions — endorse this work or offer a room. Letter of support template included.
Volunteer facilitators
Help teach — patiently, in your community →
Retirees, students, working professionals — 2–4 hours a week to sit beside a senior while they learn. Training provided.
Join the advisory circle
Tell us you're interested — or help us shape it.
Whether you're a senior yourself, supporting one, or a community host who wants to run a circle — leave your details and we'll be in touch as pilots begin.
Outcomes
What we measure
We track a small, consistent set of measures across every pilot so funders and community partners can see real outcomes.
- Participants served
- Workshops completed
- Pre/post confidence improvement
- Scam-awareness improvement
- Plain-language resources created
- Peer mentors / advisors engaged
- Partner sites engaged
- Practical outputs completed