Noticed something interesting recently: my parents have become some of the earliest deep AI users I know in China.
They're both retired. The moment DeepSeek launched, they were on it. Then they switched to Doubao and now chat with it regularly. They ask all kinds of questions — what to do about an upset stomach, future city planning for the empty lot near their home, daily health management.
This lines up with something I wrote before about who the first AI adopters are: adoption has little to do with education or technical ability. It's about having real needs and being willing to try. They don't carry the baggage of "AI isn't good enough" — they just ask.
There are concerns, of course. AI still hallucinates, especially around medical advice and medication. I keep reminding them: don't trust it blindly, ask for evidence, and always consult a real doctor for anything risky — especially prescriptions.
But overall, seeing this movement is encouraging. Early adopter distribution is way broader than we think.
Come to think of it, maybe retired elite seniors really could create interesting things with AI. These people have decades of accumulated experience, insights, and judgment. With AI amplification, if they can move big levers with less time, "senior builders" might become a genuinely interesting space.
And our parents' generation is already used to upheaval. From the Reform and Opening Up to the internet era — every wave was a massive change for them. Their entire lives have been lived through continuous major transitions. As long as health holds up, why not?
Of course, this might just be a transition period phenomenon. If AI's judgment capabilities become strong enough in two or three years, the human experience advantage might not be so scarce anymore. But until then, the window is open.
I'm looking forward to my parents becoming some of the first globally impactful senior builders. Retired people with the two things builders need most — time and curiosity.