Societal Resilience Fund (AI Education and Literacy)

Societal Resilience Fund (AI Education and Literacy) is sponsored by Microsoft and OpenAI (via Older Adults Technology Services - OATS). This fund supports programs focused on educating American adults 50-plus on foundational aspects of AI and strengthening their digital literacy skills.

Empowering Older Adults through Accessible Technology: Highlights from the Microsoft and OpenAI Societal Resilience Grant - OATS General News Empowering Older Adults through Accessible Technology: Highlights from the Microsoft and OpenAI Societal Resilience Grant Empowering older adults through accessible tech: Key milestones from the Microsoft and OpenAI Societal Resilience Grant initiative.

In 2024, Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP was honored to receive a generous $450,000 grant from OpenAI and Microsoft’s Societal Resilience Fund. This remarkable support is fueling our mission to help Americans age 60 and over understand and benefit from the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI), while strengthening the digital literacy skills they need to navigate an increasingly tech-driven society.

Below we reflect on the amazing strides we made because of receiving this grant: Senior Planet started the year on a high note with a special invitation from OpenAI to present its Introduction to AI class at the company’s new NYC office. A group of curious and engaged older adult learners gathered to explore how AI is shaping daily life—and to ask thoughtful, forward-looking questions.

This experience not only expanded participants’ understanding of AI but also sharpened their ability to evaluate and interact with new technologies—key components of digital literacy. The event marked a meaningful moment of connection between older adults and one of the world’s leading AI innovators, setting the tone for a year focused on inclusion, education, and lifelong learning.

The grant also funded the development of 10 Senior Planet classes designed to introduce older adults to AI fundamentals using leading platforms such as ChatGPT , Google Gemini , and Microsoft CoPilot , help them spot deceptive AI content, and explore safe, practical uses of the technology.

By providing these opportunities, we empowered learners to think critically about information sources, engage with digital tools more confidently, and apply new skills to everyday life. Several of these classes are offered in multiple languages—English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese—to enhance accessibility and ensure that the benefits of digital literacy reach diverse communities.

The curriculum includes AI and Disinformation , AI All Around , AI Image Generators , AI Voice and Voice Generators , Everyday Uses of AI , Is That AI? , Intro to AI (featuring ChatGPT) , Intro to Chatting with AI using ChatGPT , Using the Google Gemini App , and AI and Your Small Business . As a key project result, OATS published the AI for Older Adults guide.

This accessible resource demystifies AI, explains what it can (and can’t) do, and shows how it can help meet the unique health, financial, and lifestyle needs of Americans 60 and older. By helping readers understand complex technologies in plain language, the guide serves as both an AI primer and a valuable tool for building broader digital literacy skills.

As part of its grant commitment to make AI more accessible, OATS also launched two insightful new videos on its YouTube channel: AI and Older Adults: A Human Approach and AI and Older Adults: Jill’s Story . These resources help older adults gain the confidence to choose the right tools, ask better questions, and stay informed—critical habits for sustaining digital literacy in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

At both the beginning and end of the project, it was important to gain deeper insight into participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and use of AI tools. To support this, OATS implemented the AI Knowledge Assessment—a tool designed to measure the effectiveness of the curriculum, track shifts in understanding and confidence over time, and surface emerging needs and concerns.

By assessing progress and identifying gaps, we ensured that future programming would continue to meet learners where they are, building both AI understanding and the foundational digital literacy needed for lifelong learning. These are just a few of the many highlights from this impactful partnership.

We are deeply grateful to OpenAI and Microsoft for their support and collaboration, which have helped expand access to emerging technologies and strengthen digital literacy for older adults across the country. We look forward to continuing our work together—empowering older adults as they explore, understand, and embrace the evolving world of computer technologies.

Written by Saunya Connelly Care & Feeding of Partnerships Urgent: Forging a Shared Legacy