Picture this dear reader. Picture a grandiose Victorian house in a small seaside town near Margate. It is the early 1970s and I am a small boy, playing on the floor in my nana’s kitchen. I can’t remember what I am playing with, possibly some plastic soldiers or an Evel Knievel stunt cycle. The shards of sunlight pierce through the glass, hitting the old, tiled floor, generating comfort and heat in equal measure. Suddenly, a small bird flies into an open window; its fluttering desperation to evacuate the four walls of its confinement leaves an irrevocable mark on me.
To this day, I am terrified of small, fluttering birds stuck in confined areas – or more specifically, trapped in confined areas with me. Of course, this situation rarely happens, but it does happen rarely. To this day, as a 58-year-old man – fluttering birds scare me. Silly.
But now me and my partner find ourselves accommodating a woodpigeon, and the most beautiful creature she is. This woodpigeon has determined that a solitary, barren flowerbox, perched on the fourth floor of an apartment in the Paris suburbs should be her home. We did not want her to make our flowerbox her home. Indeed, she made several attempts the year before. By strategically placing chop sticks in the said pot, we had successfully prevented her from doing this. But animals are in turn both persistent and resilient.
I think the flower box was “Betty’s” last option. I have, dear reader, decided to call her Betty and that is what I shall call her from now on. I don’t know if my partner has given her a name. She is more phlegmatic than me. Betty had tried to make a home on the outside sill of our loo – depositing numerous twigs – some of them of a significant size; some of which tumbled inside and deposited themselves on the toilet floor. Betty – like most woodpigeons is of no mean size. In fact – she’s not that smaller than a chicken. Despite sticking a picture of a hawk on the toilet window to deter her, this only provided temporary respite. I guess the static nature of a photocopied hawk stuck to a windowpane only fools woodpigeons for a certain amount of time. Betty decided to relocate a few feet away to an inviting, barren flowerbox. At the last count, she has three eggs. Lord knows what the neighbours will say when those eggs hatch.
The beauty of a woodpigeon
And so, dear reader – let me tell you about woodpigeons. As many of you may know – especially those of a rural disposition, the woodpigeon is a beautiful bird. Its soft grey plumage is accented by a pinkish breast and distinctive white neck patches, while an iridescent green and purple sheen adds unexpected vibrance in the sunlight. When a woodpigeon flies, it displays bold white wing bars and a characteristic wing-clap take-off, followed by a graceful, gliding movement. Its five-note cooing call—“coo-COO-coo, coo-coo” – is a familiar and soothing backdrop to both countryside and urban life. It’s a resonant sound for me and brings back memories of the cricket pitch at my small independent schools oh so many years ago. I haven’t heard Betty do that yet, but that’s mostly because I have the window closed so that she doesn’t drag me back to my 1970s PTSD.
So what does this have to do with AI and the perils for the elderly?
Well, bear with me and I’ll explain. Having Betty comfortably ensconced outside the bathroom window – with only her silhouette visible behind the frosted glass- my partner and I have become increasingly invested in Betty’s well-being. It’s safe to say that we have become somewhat fond of her. The other day my mother called me from Blighty, and we had our regular catch-up call, bemoaning the state of things, when I happened to mention our new feathered tenant. My mother is a huge animal lover and would rather the destruction a nation state than the death of a hedgehog. I showed her our fat friend and then followed up by sending her a photograph. The following day, I was engaged in a conversation about AI with a client and after our discussion it got me thinking.
What a jape it would be, if I used AI to create an image of me cuddling my dearest Betty. I soon got to work. Using Chat GPT (any other platforms will do) I asked it to produce an image of me cuddling a woodpigeon.
It was simple. All I needed to do was upload a photo of me; AI would do the rest. Lo and behold – after a New York minute, Chat GPT had produced an image of me with Betty in my embrace. The image Chat GPT produced was a pretty accurate portrayal of what I look like – notwithstanding that I actually have a full beard.
AI generated content may be incorrect. However – it duped my mother. Within one minute of sending it to her, my WhatsApp came to life – my mother wanting to know what the hell was going on. I decided to play the game a bit and told her that Betty had become so tame, that I could comfortably present a coaching session with my feathered friend comfortably nestled in the seat of my pants. I told her that Betty was more than happy to take food from me and I showed her how Betty would peck at my lips to receive nourishment. Shocked and bewildered – not quite understanding how a wild bird could so easily be tamed and become an adopted member of the family, she was lots for words – a particularly rare occurrence. Unbeknown to me, mum had already sent the image to her best friend Valerie – who in turn – rushed off to the local printer to get a picture framed for posterity. This chain of events took less time than the shake of a lamb’s tail. I decided to end this charade and came clean. I confessed to my dear mother that it was an artificially generated image and her reaction was wonderful. She guffawed with laughter – a magnanimous response to the deception! She got the joke and found it hilarious that Valerie had been taken in too. Two old birds taken in by one young! The jape was to delicious to rest and so I decided to repeat the exercise with my mother’s dearest French friend – Eliane. Eliane was a duped as well, and the text exchanges I had with dear Eliane made me and my partner fold over in spasms of uncontrolled laughter. An arranged trip to central France for a weekend was now going to pose distinct problems. I cannot and will not leave Betty on her own. I shall bring her in a box and the eggs to boot. Eliane earnestly questioned whether SNCF – the French national train company would allow this. “And what about the eggs,” she questioned. “Don’t worry”, I responded by text – I’ll keep them nice and warm. Of course, I also ended this charade before the end of the evening, with Eliane’s final text response being “Silly boy!”
Deceit by woodpigeon
So where am I going with this? Well, I managed to dupe three people of a certain age in the space of an hour. And believe me, dear readers, each of these baby boomers are as sharp as a pin. They have a full set of marbles. They are as bright as buttons. The lights are on, and they are all at home! Yet, all three of these ladies fell for my deceit. And although this was a light-hearted deception, you can imagine how Artificial Intelligence – or AI, could be used for more sinister purposes in the hands of manipulative individuals looking to exploit a vulnerable demographic.
As Artificial Intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in everyday life, discussions around its dangers often focus on data privacy, job automation, or deepfakes influencing elections.
However, a less talked-about – yet deeply pressing issue – is how AI-driven technologies and scams are being used to exploit older generations. For people born decades before the internet’s inception, the sudden rise of hyper-intelligent machines capable of mimicking human behaviour, crafting lifelike conversations, and automating deception poses a significant threat. Older adults, especially those over 70, are at heightened risk of falling victim to AI-facilitated manipulation.
Many are less familiar with the nuances of modern technology, making it easier for them to misinterpret a phishing email as legitimate, or to trust an AI chatbot posing as a family member or customer service agent.
AI doesn’t just enable fraud – it supercharges it. Scammers can now use machine learning to mimic voices, replicate writing styles, and generate hyper-personalised messages that increase the likelihood of tricking an unsuspecting target. This is particularly dangerous for individuals who may already be isolated, less digitally literate, or struggling with memory-related conditions. Here are some of the common scams.
Common AI-Facilitated Scams Targeting Older Adults
Phishing Emails and Texts:
AI can craft convincing emails or texts pretending to be from HMRC, banks, or delivery services. These often include official-looking logos and urgent requests to “verify identity” or “claim refunds.”
Voice Cloning Scams:
Sophisticated tools can mimic the voice of a loved one in distress. Grandparents may receive a panicked call sounding like a grandchild needing emergency funds – all entirely fabricated.
Romance Scams:
AI chatbots can engage in prolonged conversations on dating sites or social media, building trust before requesting money under emotional pretences.
Fake Customer Support:
Scammers using AI to simulate tech support calls or chats. Victims may be persuaded to give remote access to their devices or pay for fake services.
Deepfake Videos:
Although still emerging, deepfake videos of public figures or supposed relatives can manipulate perceptions and decision-making.
Impersonation via Messaging Apps:
WhatsApp scams where fraudsters pretend to be children using a “new number” are growing. AI tools now help craft believable dialogue and emotional hooks.
So, what can you do to protect yourself in the age of AI?
Six Top Tips for Older Adults to Stay Safe in the AI Age
- Pause and Verify
Never act on a message – email, text, or call – without verifying it independently. If a grandchild calls for money, hang up and call their usual number. If a bank texts you, contact them using a trusted phone number.
- Beware of Urgency and Emotional Pressure
Scammers often create a false sense of urgency. Whether it’s a “limited-time offer” or a “medical emergency,” these are red flags. Always take time to assess the situation.
- Install Trusted Security Software
Ensure all devices have up-to-date antivirus and anti-phishing software. Many security tools now include AI-based detection that can flag suspicious activity before you interact with it.
- Never Share Personal Information Over the Phone or Email
Banks and government bodies will never ask for PINs, passwords, or personal details via phone or unsolicited email. Be especially wary of requests for money or bank transfers.
- Take Regular Digital Literacy Classes
Local libraries, councils, or charities often run free or low-cost courses. Staying informed about the latest scams and how technology works builds confidence and reduces risk.
- Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Whenever possible, enable MFA on emails, bank accounts, and apps. This adds an extra layer of protection – even if someone gets your password, they still can’t access your account.
Don’t fall for AI deceptions
So this is my message to all you amazing Baby Boomers out there who feel threatened by AI, and especially the ones who have experienced any of the scams listed in this article. Don’t get taken in. If you have had a scare – put it down to experience and put it behind you. It is important to move on but make a written record of what type of innocuous communication you received. I ask my mother to do this so that she can see a pattern.
If in doubt – call your son, daughter, or someone you trust; someone who works with, and deals with AI technology. When my mother receives a strange and questionable text message – I am her go-to. I act as her gate keeper, advising her to ignore and delete any message that seem of a dubious nature.
But let’s dispel a myth here folks. Artificial Intelligence is not intelligent at all. In itself, AI is not inherently malicious, but in the wrong hands, it becomes a powerful tool for manipulation. Older generations – who have not grown up navigating the digital landscape – deserve better protection, more awareness, and accessible education to shield them from these evolving threats.
And maybe it’s apt to end this cautionary tale with another picture of my darling Betty – soon to see her eggs hatch and annoy the hell out of my neighbours in just a few weeks’ time when all hell breaks loose.
A woodpigeon became my inspiration to write this article, and I hope these tips will serve you in good stead.
Betty is very real. As I conclude this article on a warm summer’s evening in the beautiful suburbs of Paris, I open my office window to see my beautiful fat woodpigeon still there, sitting on her eggs. As a gesture of appreciation for the inspiration Betty has provided me, I offer her a nice round perch.
Or did I?
