When Elizabeth II came to the throne in 1952, communication was very different from today.
Long-distance communication often depended on intermediaries. Telephone operators connected calls. Telegram clerks transmitted urgent messages. Accessing specialised information usually meant consulting a professional, visiting an office, or speaking to an expert. Ordinary people could benefit from these systems, but they often relied on trained specialists to bridge the gap.
During the Queen’s reign, that changed dramatically.
Her 1953 coronation was the first ever to be televised, bringing a major national event directly into people’s homes. Later came direct-dial telephones, personal computers, the internet, email, and smartphones. Each new step reduced the barriers between people and information. Tasks that once required an intermediary could now be handled directly.
That is the pattern of technological progress: it puts capability directly into the hands of ordinary people.
And here is the important thing — you have already lived through every one of those changes. You adapted to direct-dial phones. You learned to use email. You picked up a smartphone. You did not need a computer science degree to do any of it, and you do not need one now.
Artificial Intelligence is simply the latest step in that same familiar process.
Not long ago, if you had a question about your phone, your computer, or an unfamiliar term, you might have needed to call a help desk, search through manuals, or ask someone with more technical knowledge. Even with the internet, finding answers often depended on knowing the right search terms and sorting through pages of results.
AI changes that.
Instead of navigating websites or relying on specialists, you can simply ask a question in plain language — just as you would ask a friend:
- “Why won’t my printer connect?”
- “How do I enlarge the text on my phone?”
- “Can you help me write this email?”
- “What does this error message mean?”
The response comes back in conversational language, tailored to your question. No jargon. No ten pages of search results to wade through. Just a clear, helpful answer.
This is what makes AI so significant — and so relevant to you right now.
Its greatest value is not that it “knows everything,” nor that it replaces human expertise. Its value is that it removes the barriers that have kept useful knowledge just out of comfortable reach.
For many people, especially those who did not grow up with digital technology, the greatest obstacle has never been intelligence — it has been access.
- Access to information.
- Access to guidance.
- Access to the confidence that comes from getting a straight answer without feeling judged for asking.
AI lowers every one of those barriers.
It allows someone with little technical background to ask practical questions and receive useful guidance immediately. In that sense, it offers something very like what the telephone once offered: direct access, without needing to go through a gatekeeper.
The telephone removed the need for messages to pass through specialists. AI removes much of the need for everyday problems to pass through experts.
That does not mean experts are obsolete.
There will always be a need for teachers, technicians, professionals, and informed human judgement. AI can misunderstand, oversimplify, or occasionally give wrong answers. It is not a substitute for wisdom or experience.
But it is a remarkably capable assistant. It can explain, suggest, clarify, and guide. It can help you take the first steps in solving problems yourself. And each time you do that, something valuable happens — you build confidence. You realise that you are more capable than you thought.
That is where AI becomes especially powerful in community learning.
In a setting like Tech Café, AI is not the subject — it is the tool. Rather than sitting back while an instructor explains everything, you can roll up your sleeves and try things yourself.
- Ask a question. Get an answer.
- Try another approach.
- Refine what you are doing.
- Learn by doing, at your own pace, with support right there when you need it.
That kind of hands-on interaction builds real confidence. It encourages independence. And it helps you realise that digital technology is not something mysterious reserved for specialists — it is something you can actively use, starting today.
That may be the most important contribution AI makes. It democratises access not only to information, but to the kind of problem-solving support that used to require an appointment, a phone call, or knowing the right person to ask.
Just as the telephone democratised communication, AI democratises assistance.
And when routine questions become easier to answer, human teachers and support groups become even more valuable — free to focus on encouragement, deeper understanding, and the things that no machine can offer.
So here is the question: why not give it a try?
You do not need to become an expert. You do not need to understand how it works under the bonnet. You just need to ask a question and see what happens. You might be surprised at how natural it feels — and how quickly it becomes useful.
If you would like to explore AI in a friendly, no-pressure environment, Tech Café at U3A Box Hill is a great place to start. Come along, bring your questions, and discover what is possible. You have been adapting to new technology your entire life. This is just the next step — and it might be the most rewarding one yet.
To get started here are a few AIs to try:
Gemini — wants to be your buddy, also good for images
Claude — professional, excellent for coding, not so good for images
ChatGPT — good middle-ground