The Day Everything Changed
I retired at 52 after spending over two decades in corrections. It was a career that demanded discipline, patience, and an ability to read people — not exactly the skill set you'd associate with Silicon Valley innovation.
When my colleagues asked what I planned to do in retirement, I gave them the honest answer: "I have no idea." I'd spent so long focused on the job that I hadn't thought much about what came after.
Then, almost by accident, I stumbled into the world of artificial intelligence.
I Didn't Even Know What ChatGPT Was
My daughter mentioned it in passing — "Dad, you should try ChatGPT, it's wild." I nodded like I understood what she was talking about. I didn't. I went home and Googled it. Then I Googled "what is ChatGPT." Then I Googled "how do you use ChatGPT."
I'm not exaggerating when I say I had to look up how to copy and paste text on my laptop. That was my starting point.
But I typed my first question into that little text box, and something clicked. The response wasn't robotic or cold. It was conversational, thoughtful, and surprisingly helpful. I asked it to explain what it was. Then I asked it to help me write a letter. Then I asked it to explain quantum physics in simple terms.
I stayed up until 2 a.m. that first night.
From Curious to Creator
Within a few weeks, I was using AI every single day. I started writing — something I'd always wanted to do but never had the confidence to pursue. I asked AI to help me structure my ideas, improve my sentences, and think through concepts I wanted to explain.
The first book I wrote was a children's book about AI. I wanted kids to understand this technology in a friendly, approachable way — the way I wished someone had explained it to me. That book became *My AI Teacher*, the first in what would become the My AI Helper Series.
I've now written multiple books, built a website, created AI-powered mental wellness apps for children and teens, and built a growing community across YouTube and TikTok.
None of that would have happened without AI.
What I Want You to Know
If you're reading this and you feel like technology has passed you by — I want you to know that it hasn't. The tools available today are more accessible than ever. You don't need a computer science degree. You don't need to understand the code behind the curtain.
You just need curiosity and the willingness to ask questions.
AI met me exactly where I was. It didn't judge my starting point. It just helped me move forward.
That's the message I try to carry into everything I create: AI is a tool for everyone, at every age, at every starting point.
If a retired corrections officer who had to Google "copy and paste" can build something meaningful with AI — so can you.
Christopher Schroeder is the founder of My AI Helper Series, creator of KidMind AI and TeenMind AI, and author of multiple AI-focused books for children and adults.