[Report] Grandmothers Use AI Too: "Uploading Grandchildren's Cute Moments as Short-Form Videos with AI"

Digital Learning Centers Bustling with Seniors in Their 60s and Above
69 Locations Established Nationwide
Senior Centers Go Smart... Remote Exercise Classes Become the Norm

"Press the plus (+) button at the bottom left, then select 'Gallery' from the options to choose the photo you took earlier. After that, you can say this in the chat window."

On the morning of the 6th, at the Gomdallae Senior Welfare Center in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. In a classroom on the fourth floor of the center, a lecture was being held on how to create emoticons using generative artificial intelligence (AI). Over 30 students aged 60 and older were following the instructor's directions, navigating Google's generative AI service, Gemini App. Two assistant instructors were also present to help seniors who had difficulty keeping up with the lesson.

Students are showing emoticons created with artificial intelligence (AI) at the AI Digital Learning Center set up at Gomdallae Senior Welfare Center in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Ministry of Science and ICT

Nearby, there was a space labeled 'Seoul Digital Learning Center Experience Zone.' Throughout the space, tablet PCs, kiosks used in actual stores, and smart tables with screens covering the entire desk were arranged. A Go board robot that could play Go one-on-one with seniors and a kiosk for diagnosing eyesight also stood out.

This is one of 69 AI Digital Learning Centers established across the country. Here, AI and digital competency education is provided for citizens, including middle-aged and older adults, who struggle to use AI and digital technologies. This initiative began in 2020 as the Digital Learning Center Project, and this year, the focus has shifted to promoting the everyday use of AI by strengthening AI competency education.

The AI Digital Learning Center is so popular among seniors that there are no empty seats in the classroom. The AI Experience Zone also saw a steady stream of seniors eager to try various AI-based services. Instructor Cha Seonghye, who teaches AI utilization here, said, "There is so much interest that we even have to hold a lottery to enter the Digital Learning Center," adding, "Seniors are very interested in learning how to use AI. They create music or even plan trips using AI."

An elderly person is experiencing image generation at the AI Digital Learning Center experience zone set up at Gomdallae Senior Welfare Center in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Ministry of Science and ICT

The seniors who attended the lectures also expressed satisfaction. Hwang Injik (age 84), who attended an AI class here, said, "I used to ask my grandchildren how to use smartphone apps, but now I use generative AI to operate kiosks or check subway schedules, which has been helpful in my daily life." Another student, Hwang Taehyeon (age 69), said, "Many people my age aren't tech-savvy, so it was hard to answer my grandchildren's questions. But after taking the AI class, I found it fun and convenient. I want to learn how to create and upload short-form videos of my grandchildren's performances."

The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to expand the number of AI Digital Learning Centers this year, as well as increase outreach education through dispatched programs. The number of core AI Digital Learning Centers will be increased from 37 to 69. The locations of these centers will be in accessible places such as libraries and administrative welfare centers. For digitally vulnerable groups who have difficulty visiting these core centers, outreach education will be expanded to senior centers and welfare facilities. The AI education programs will also be diversified to include courses such as Vibe coding and AI fundamentals.

Remote Exercise Classes at 'Smart Senior Centers'... Health Management via Kiosks

On the afternoon of the 6th, a remote exercise class is being held at the Smart Senior Center in Gwanak Dream Town Apartments, Gwanak-gu, Seoul. Photo by Lee Myunghwan

On the afternoon of the same day, at the senior center in Gwanak Dream Town Apartments, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, seniors were actively participating in an exercise class, but there was no instructor physically present. The instructor demonstrated the routine to background music through a large video conferencing system installed in the center. The screen displayed not only the instructor but also the seniors at Gwanak Dream Town and at other senior centers. The instructor corrected each participant's posture through the video feed.

A banner reading 'Nation's Top Model Smart Senior Center' caught the eye in one corner of the center. Gwanak Dream Town Senior Center has been selected and is operating as a smart senior center. A senior-friendly video conferencing solution is installed here, enabling not only exercise classes like the one held today but also real-time classes in singing, health, and other leisure and welfare fields.

Seniors visiting the center can also manage their health. In one room, a healthcare kiosk is set up along with body composition analyzers and blood pressure monitors. The healthcare kiosk provides a service that individually analyzes and manages the seniors' health information. Through the video conferencing solution, they can also participate in health management programs in coordination with local health centers. In remote mountain and island regions, smart senior centers are working to make remote medical consultations possible through the video conferencing solution.

Since the transition to a smart senior center, the response from seniors has been positive. As of last year, the annual number of users at this center was about 1,700, and the average satisfaction rate among seniors exceeded 90%.

Lee Dokyu, policy chief at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "AI should become a tool that not only experts but all citizens—including seniors and marginalized groups—can benefit from in their daily lives to improve their quality of life. We will expand outreach education using the 69 AI Digital Learning Centers nationwide as hubs, while carefully promoting inclusive AI services so that Korea can lead as a warm, digitally inclusive society."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.