Free AI Tools Worth Trying for Older Adults in Australia

There is a common worry that AI is something you have to pay for, or sign up to with a credit card. The good news is that the best-known AI tools all have a free version, and for everyday use the free version is usually all you will ever need. You can try the lot without spending a cent.

This guide rounds up the AI tools most worth a look for an older Australian, what each is good at, and how to get started gently. If the whole idea is new, our guide to what AI is is a calm place to begin. If you are helping an older parent get online, see our wider guide to helping a parent go online.

Which one suits you

They overlap a great deal, so you cannot really go wrong. This quick table points you to a sensible first choice.

If you want	Better fit
A friendly all-rounder to start with	ChatGPT
Something already built into an Android phone	Google Gemini
Help right inside Windows on a laptop	Microsoft Copilot
To just ask out loud on an iPhone or iPad	Siri with Apple Intelligence

ChatGPT

ChatGPT is the best-known AI tool and a fine first one to try. You type a question or request in plain words, and it answers in plain words back. It is good at explaining things, helping you write, suggesting ideas, and holding a back-and-forth conversation.

Go to chatgpt.com in your web browser, or download the ChatGPT app on a phone or tablet. You can use it without an account for a quick try, though making a free account lets it remember your conversation. There is a paid version, but the free one is plenty for everyday use. See what ChatGPT is and how to use ChatGPT with everyday examples.

Google Gemini

Gemini is Google’s AI, and it does much the same job as ChatGPT. Its big advantage is that it is already on most modern Android phones, and it connects neatly with Google services like Gmail, Maps, and your photos. If you have a Samsung or Pixel phone, you may already have it.

Look for the Gemini app, or visit gemini.google.com. It is free, and you sign in with the Google account you likely already use on your phone.

Microsoft Copilot

Copilot is Microsoft’s AI. If you use a Windows laptop or computer, it is built in and easy to reach, and it works well with Word and other Microsoft programs. It is handy for writing, summarising, and answering questions without leaving your desktop.

It is free to use, available at copilot.microsoft.com and as an app. For help getting the most from a Windows machine, see our Windows laptop guides.

Siri and Apple Intelligence

If you have an iPhone or iPad, you already have Siri, and newer devices add Apple Intelligence on top. This is the easiest of all to try, because you simply ask out loud. It is great for quick questions, reminders, and messages without any typing.

To learn more about talking to your devices, see our guide to voice assistants and to AI on your phone.

How to try one safely

The simplest way to begin is to pick just one and ask it something low-stakes, like “Explain what a podcast is in simple terms” or “Suggest three easy dinners using chicken and potatoes.” You will quickly get a feel for it. A few sensible habits:

• Stick to the official website or app, so you know it is the real thing.
• Do not type in passwords, bank numbers, or your tax file number.
• Check anything important, since AI can be confidently wrong. Our guide on whether you can trust what AI tells you explains how.

You do not need all of these. One free tool, used now and then, is plenty for most people.