Age is not a barrier when it comes to learning artificial intelligence (AI).

A total of 230 participants aged between 40 and 87 attended the “Have fun learning AI” workshop at the Perak Hainan Association on Sunday.

Five of the participants are over 80-year-old and 36 of them exceed 70-year-old where they spent two hours to learn how to use AI tools – ChatGPT and Deepseek to look for information from checking out delicious dim sum outlets to tracing the contact numbers of restaurants in Ipoh.

Organised by Sin Chew Daily and Perak Hainan Association for the first time, Lim Zi Chung, who teaches AI at Nan Hwa High School in Ayer Tawar, Manjung, taught the participants from basics of AI to identify fake news and photos created by AI.

The participants also learned about cyber security and how to detect online scams. 

The workshop, which cost RM10 per person, was targeting at 200 participants but received overwhelming response with 230 turning up.

The oldest participant, an 87-old businessman in the construction industry said he did not want to give up learning opportunities.

Foo Kok Kin, 83, owner of Kok Kin Photographic & Colour Lab Sdn Bhd, came with his daughter to attend the workshop.

“I want to know photography techniques using AI, the pros and cons of the photography equipment,’’ he said.