Age is not a barrier to learning new tools
En un país donde la economía digital avanza más rápido que la capacidad de muchos para seguirle el paso, Chile intenta tender un puente entre generaciones a través del conocimiento. Desafío Latam, con el respaldo del Fondo 55+ de Entel, ha lanzado 'Duplas Intergeneracionales Tech', un programa gratuito que une a mayores de 55 años con jóvenes tecnólogos para aprender inteligencia artificial juntos. La iniciativa reconoce que la experiencia acumulada en décadas de trabajo no debería quedar obsoleta por una brecha digital, sino que puede renovarse cuando se le da acceso y acompañamiento.
- La brecha digital en Chile y América Latina deja a los trabajadores mayores al margen de una economía que se transforma a ritmo acelerado.
- El programa abre una primera puerta accesible: ocho webinars gratuitos sobre alfabetización digital e inteligencia artificial, sin exigir conocimientos técnicos previos.
- La tensión real llega en la fase dos, cuando solo 60 participantes son seleccionados para formar duplas con jóvenes tecnólogos y enfrentar problemas industriales reales.
- Las sesiones presenciales obligatorias en Santiago y Valparaíso elevan la apuesta, convirtiendo el aprendizaje en colaboración concreta y medible.
- El modelo intergeneracional se propone demostrar que la edad no es un obstáculo, pero su validez dependerá de lo que estas duplas logren construir juntas.
Desafío Latam ha lanzado 'Duplas Intergeneracionales Tech', un programa gratuito financiado por el Fondo 55+ de Entel que busca incorporar a adultos mayores al ecosistema digital chileno. La propuesta es sencilla en su punto de entrada: cualquier persona de 55 años o más, con residencia chilena, educación secundaria completa y manejo básico de computador e internet, puede inscribirse sin costo.
El programa se desarrolla en dos fases. La primera es completamente en línea: ocho webinars que introducen herramientas digitales y aplicaciones prácticas de inteligencia artificial. La segunda fase es donde el proyecto cobra su verdadera forma. Los 60 participantes con mejor desempeño serán seleccionados y emparejados con jóvenes tecnólogos para trabajar en problemas reales de la industria, usando la IA como herramienta central. Esta etapa incluye encuentros presenciales en Santiago y la región de Valparaíso.
El programa recluta simultáneamente a los jóvenes que actuarán como socios tecnológicos, construyendo deliberadamente un intercambio de saberes entre generaciones. La lógica es clara: la experiencia de vida de los mayores y la fluidez digital de los jóvenes pueden complementarse para resolver desafíos concretos.
Las inscripciones están abiertas. El verdadero examen llegará en la segunda fase, cuando las duplas deban demostrar que el modelo intergeneracional no solo es posible, sino productivo.
Chile's technology academy Desafío Latam has launched a free training program designed to pull older adults into the digital economy. Called "Duplas Intergeneracionales Tech" and funded by Entel's 55+ Fund, the initiative opens its doors to anyone 55 and older who wants to learn artificial intelligence and digital tools—no tuition required.
The program works in two distinct phases. First comes an online stage: eight webinars delivered over the internet that teach digital literacy and practical applications of AI. These sessions are open to anyone who meets the basic criteria. The second phase is where the real work begins. From the pool of participants, organizers will select the 60 strongest performers and pair each with a young technologist. These intergenerational teams will then tackle actual industry problems under the guidance of a mentor, using AI as their primary tool. This hybrid phase includes mandatory in-person meetings in Santiago and the Valparaíso region.
To apply, candidates must be at least 55 years old at the time of registration, hold Chilean citizenship or permanent residency, and have completed secondary school education. The program does not require advanced technical knowledge—only a basic comfort with computers, internet browsing, and video calls. Applicants must also confirm they can attend the face-to-face sessions if selected for phase two. The program is simultaneously recruiting young technology enthusiasts to serve as the youth partners in these working pairs, creating a deliberate exchange of knowledge across generations.
The initiative addresses a persistent problem in Chile and across Latin America: the digital divide that leaves older workers behind as industries shift toward technology-driven solutions. By pairing experience with technical fluency, the program aims to show that age is not a barrier to learning new tools. The structure—starting with accessible online content before moving to collaborative, real-world projects—suggests confidence that older learners can move quickly from theory to application.
Applications are now open. For those interested, the requirements are straightforward enough that most Chileans over 55 with a high school diploma and basic computer skills should qualify. The real test will come in phase two, where the selected seniors must prove they can work alongside younger colleagues to solve genuine problems. That's where the intergenerational model either validates itself or reveals its limits.
Notable Quotes
The program aims to show that the digital divide is no longer an excuse for older workers to remain outside the technology economy— Program description
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why pair older adults with young technologists specifically? Why not just teach them separately?
Because the pairing is the whole point. A 60-year-old brings professional judgment and life experience; a 25-year-old brings fluency with the tools. When they work on a real problem together, the older person isn't just learning AI—they're learning it in context, from someone who thinks in that language natively.
But doesn't that create an awkward dynamic? The senior might feel behind.
Maybe. But the program structures it so they're peers solving a problem, not a teacher-student setup. The mentor guides both of them. And honestly, the young person probably learns something about how to explain their thinking clearly, which is a skill they often lack.
What happens after the program ends? Do these pairs stay together?
The source doesn't say. That's actually the question that matters most—whether this is a genuine bridge or just a summer camp experience. If the pairs dissolve, the seniors go back to isolation. If they continue, you've built something real.
Who's actually going to apply? Is this reaching the people who need it most?
That depends on how much they advertise and where. The requirements are reasonable—secondary education, basic computer skills. But you're still asking someone over 55 to commit time and show up in person. That filters for people with flexibility and motivation. The truly isolated might not see the announcement at all.
Why is Entel funding this?
Corporate social responsibility, probably. But also: if you're a telecom company, you want older people online and using digital services. This creates customers and shows goodwill. It's not cynical—the program is real—but the incentives align.