After 45 Years in Tech, I Built an AI App for the People Everyone Else Forgot
Or: What happens when someone who's been in technology for decades gets fed up with watching people get left behind
I’ve been working in technology for more than 45 years.
That’s longer than some of you have been alive. Longer than the internet has been a household word. Long enough to watch innovation cycles come and go, and long enough to see the same pattern repeat itself over and over again.
Every time something “revolutionary” arrives, the people who need it most get left behind.
Not because they’re incapable. Not because they lack curiosity. But because no one slows down long enough to bring them along.
I’m done watching that happen.
Where This Started
I live in rural upstate New York, in a town called Groton. It’s beautiful here. It’s quiet. It’s also the kind of place where people don’t have extra money lying around for professional development, training courses, or the latest tech subscription.
AI education? It doesn’t exist here.
But curiosity does. Questions do. And so does the quiet frustration of feeling like the world is moving forward without you.
I started teaching free AI classes at my local library because I saw that frustration firsthand. Seniors who wanted to understand what their grandkids were talking about. Small business owners who felt overwhelmed. Everyday people who just wanted someone to explain things in plain English without making them feel stupid.
Those classes filled up immediately.
And that’s when I realized this couldn’t just be a local thing.
What I Built, and Why
Learning AI with Gretchen is a free app I built for beginners. Not for engineers. Not for power users. For real people who’ve been quietly intimidated, confused, or shut out of the AI conversation.
It’s designed to be:
· Beginner friendly
· Written in plain language
· Built with guardrails so people feel safe
· Human, not hype driven
Because here’s the truth: most AI tools assume you already speak the language. They assume you know the rules. They assume you know the “right” way to ask questions.
And if you don’t? You’re left feeling behind. Or worse, unsafe.
I’ve spent more than four decades supporting users, building systems, and watching people struggle with technology that wasn’t designed with them in mind. I knew I could do better.
So I did.
Free Forever, Because It Has to Be
The app is free. The classes I teach are free. That’s not changing.
Access to learning should never depend on your income, your age, or your zip code. I built this knowing full well that the people who need it most would never pay for another subscription or workshop fee.
The goal here isn’t profit. It’s access.
As this work grows, I’ll be looking for sponsors who get it. Organizations and people who understand that keeping AI education free for those who need it most isn’t charity. It’s an investment in our communities.
Beyond the Finger Lakes
What started in a library in Groton, New York has now reached learners far beyond my rural community.
I offer free beginner AI classes virtually for anyone outside the Finger Lakes area. Libraries, community groups, small businesses, they can all access the same support without cost barriers.
Because the need is everywhere.
Middle and high schools aren’t teaching AI. Senior centers aren’t touching it. Small business owners are drowning in information but starving for clarity. Rural and underserved communities are being skipped entirely.
Someone had to build a bridge. So I did.
Safety First, Always
A lot of AI tools prioritize speed and capability. I prioritize safety and trust.
Clear explanations. Thoughtful constraints. No dark patterns. No data exploitation.
If you’re new to AI, the experience should feel supportive, not risky. You shouldn’t have to wonder if you’re doing something wrong or if your information is being misused.
You should feel like someone actually thought about you when they built this thing.
Why This Matters to Me
I’m also a mental health advocate and podcast co-host. That perspective matters here.
Feeling left behind by technology creates anxiety, shame, and fear. I’ve watched it happen to people I care about. I’ve heard it in the voices of students in my classes.
This app exists to say something simple but powerful:
You’re not behind. You’re not stupid. You’re right on time.
Technology should work for people, not intimidate them.
No One Gets Left Behind
After 45 years in this industry, I’ve learned that the people building technology rarely slow down to think about who they’re leaving in the dust.
I’m not interested in moving fast and breaking things. I’m interested in making sure no one gets left behind.
Especially now. Especially with AI.
If you’ve felt confused, intimidated, or shut out of this conversation, this app is for you. The classes are for you. This work is for you.
Come learn with me.
Connect with Me
App: https://learningaiwithgretchen.schosersolutions.com
Company: Schoser Talent and Wellness Solutions
Website: https://www.schosersolutions.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaschoser/
Let’s make sure everyone gets a seat at the table.
Such an incredible resource, meeting people where they are in their understanding of AI and how it works and can support them!
This is so great. I’m leading a free “build with me” class in Camillus NY for very similar reasons, 26 years in tech and counting. I’m amazed with the progress made!