Is it safe to use an AI assistant?

Yes, if you choose an app that's clear about who makes it, and you never share details like your Social Security number or bank information. Privacy laws give you rights over your data, and reputable apps have to respect them. There are just a few things to watch out for.

Many older adults are wary of artificial intelligence, and that's understandable. Fewer than one in four Americans aged 65 and older use AI chatbots, compared with about half of all adults, according to Pew Research Center. Yet the internet itself is part of daily life for most older adults: 90 percent of Americans 65 and older use it. So the caution is rarely about the technology being hard to use. Most people want to know they're safe.

The law gives you rights over your data

Exactly which rules apply depends on where you live, but in many places the law gives you real rights over your data. In the UK and the EU, data protection law (the GDPR) lets you find out what information a company holds about you, have it corrected and ask for it to be deleted. In the US, the rules vary from state to state. In California, for example, the Consumer Privacy Act gives you the right to know what a business collects about you, to have it corrected and to have it deleted. These rules apply to AI assistants too.

That doesn't mean every app takes equally good care of your data. But it does mean the law is on your side, and a reputable company should be able to tell you what it keeps and why.

An AI can be wrong

An AI assistant answers quickly and sounds sure of itself. But it can be wrong. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre puts it plainly: AI tools can get things wrong and present incorrect statements as facts, a flaw known as "hallucination." An answer can be wrong, out of date or simply made up.

So follow one simple rule. Use AI freely to learn things, get things explained and get started, but check important information before you act on it. If it's about your health, your money or a legal matter, use the answer to prepare for talking with your doctor, your bank or a lawyer, not as a replacement for that conversation.

What never to share

Age UK's advice applies at any age: never give passwords or your bank account number to a public AI tool. Treat your Social Security number, your National Insurance number and any security codes the same way. That's not because the AI assistant would necessarily misuse them. That kind of information simply doesn't belong in a conversation, and a reputable AI assistant will never ask you for it.

It's the same rule as on the phone: no real bank, government agency or company will ask you for your passwords or codes.

AI assistants and scams are different things

Online fraud is a real problem. In 2025, Americans aged 60 and older reported $7.7 billion in online fraud losses to the FBI, 59 percent more than the year before. The average loss was $38,500.

But there's an important difference. A scam comes to you, as an unexpected call, a message or a link. An AI assistant is an app you chose and open yourself. The risk comes when someone asks you for something. Opening an app from a company you know, one that's open about how it works, is very different from answering a stranger who gets in touch.

How to get started safely

• Choose an app that's clear about who makes it. You should be able to see which company is behind it and how to contact them.
• Read what the app says about your data. You don't need to read every word. Look for whether you can have your information deleted, whether it's sold on, and whether the app shares anything with others, such as your family. That kind of sharing can be reassuring, but it should be spelled out clearly so you can decide for yourself.
• Start with easy questions. Ask about a recipe, a trip or something you've always wondered about. That way you get a feel for how it works with nothing at stake.
• Keep a healthy skepticism. Be as careful as you would be on the phone when someone asks for information. You can also ask an AI whether it can be wrong. A straight answer is a good sign.

This is general information, not medical advice. Every situation is different, so talk to a doctor about yours.