I Asked AI to Explain Modern Slang. Now I regret asking.
I Asked AI to Explain Modern Slang… and Now I Regret Asking
There comes a moment in every grandfather’s life when he realizes the English language has changed without permission.
For me, that moment happened in my kitchen.
I have three granddaughters — ages 10, 12, and 14 — and apparently part of their daily mission is to use words in sentences that make absolutely no sense to anyone over 50.
The other day one of them said:
“Grandpa, that’s low-key fire.”
Now… I understood two of those words individually.
Together?
Not a clue.
Naturally, the room erupted in laughter while I stood there trying to determine whether:
I had accidentally started a kitchen fire, or
I had somehow done something impressive.
Then came:
“No cap”
“Bet”
“Bruh”
“It’s giving…”
“Sus”
“Mid”
“Rizz”
At this point I felt less like a grandfather and more like a tourist who forgot his phrasebook.
So, I did what any curious Boomer would do.
I asked AI.
And friends… I’m not sure I was emotionally prepared for the answers.
Apparently:
“Rizz” means charisma.
“Bet” means okay.
“No cap” means someone is telling the truth.
“Mid” means mediocre.
And “It’s giving…” is somehow a complete sentence now.
The AI explained all of this instantly, calmly, and without laughing at me.
Which already made it more patient than my grandchildren.
But here’s the interesting part…
That silly little experiment taught me something important about AI.
Most people my age think AI is only for:
giant corporations
computer programmers
Silicon Valley tech companies
or teenagers who can reset your Wi-Fi faster than you can find your glasses
But that’s not really what AI is becoming.
Sometimes it’s just:
a helper
a translator
a research assistant
or a tool that helps you understand the modern world a little faster
And honestly?
That’s where I think many older adults should begin with AI.
Not with complicated business systems.
Not with scary headlines.
Not with “the robots are coming.”
Just simple curiosity.
Ask it:
to explain slang
help plan a grocery list
summarize a long article
explain technology in plain English
or settle an argument with your grandchildren
(Although be warned… AI will probably side with them on the slang.)
The truth is, learning AI doesn’t mean you suddenly become a “tech person.”
It just means you’re willing to learn one new tool.
And if our generation learned:
smartphones
online banking
streaming television
and how to unmute ourselves on Zoom calls…
we can probably survive modern slang too.
Maybe.
No cap.
Final Thought
One thing I’ve learned recently is this:
Fear usually shrinks when familiarity grows.
The more everyday people interact with AI in simple, harmless, practical ways… the less intimidating it becomes.
And maybe that’s the real starting point.
Not becoming an AI expert.
Just becoming comfortable enough to ask a question.
Even if the answer makes you regret learning what “rizz” means.
