89-year-old Japanese retiree Tomoji Suzuki has turned to coding, developing apps tailored for Japan's elderly population. He credits ChatGPT as a "great teacher" and "programming mentor" in his coding journey.
Suzuki has created 11 free iPhone apps aimed at helping seniors, including his latest, "Outing Prep Voice Slide Show." This app, inspired by a personal incident where he forgot his dentures, reminds users of essential items before leaving the house, using his granddaughter's voice.
Suzuki believes his age gives him an edge in understanding the needs of the elderly. "No matter how hard they try, younger people don't understand the elderly's needs and expectations," he said.
Japan, with nearly a third of its population aged 65 and above, faces a demographic crisis due to a plummeting birth rate. Suzuki, who took up programming in the early 2010s, saw app development as a way to contribute meaningfully in his later years.
ChatGPT assisted Suzuki in creating his latest app by answering around 1,000 coding-related questions. He has even published a book on using ChatGPT as a "programming mentor." "I'm lucky... If I'd passed away a year or two years ago, I wouldn't have encountered ChatGPT," he remarked.
Suzuki's most popular app, "Pee Count Record," was inspired by his own post-surgery experience of needing to track his urination frequency. Despite minimal marketing, it gets about 30 downloads each week.
His 92-year-old brother, Kinji Suzuki, uses several of these apps, including "Voice Input Assist," which simplifies tasks like sending emails through voice recognition.
Suzuki's apps have also garnered fans like Etsunobu Onuki, a 75-year-old hearing aid shop owner. Onuki uses Suzuki's mouth-muscle strengthening app and recommends his slideshow app to customers.
As a member of the Senior Programming Network (SPN), Suzuki receives support from fellow senior developers. SPN's founder, Katsushiro Koizumi, encourages integrating AI tools into apps to simplify their use for the elderly.
Suzuki finds joy in his work and encourages other retirees to explore app development. "If you don't have anything to do after retirement, please look into it. You could discover a new self," he said.
