09/04/2026
Curiosity doesn’t have an age limit. This fall, English professor Matthew Vollmer is joining the Lifelong Learning Institute of Virginia Tech to explore how artificial intelligence can become a writing partner and why the experiences writers bring to the page still matter.
Vollmer uses AI in his own creative process for tasks such as transcribing handwritten drafts, identifying patterns, suggesting books, and researching the history of places. But he sees a clear distinction between assisting a writer and replacing one.
“To write compelling fiction you need not only to have read and processed information, but you need to live, to have lived,” Vollmer said.
That makes working with lifelong learners especially exciting: They bring decades of experiences, questions, and stories to the classroom.
Vollmer’s two-session course, “Collaborating With AI: How to Make Artificial Intelligence Your Writing Partner,” is part of LLI’s fall lineup of nearly 90 courses, lectures, field trips, and other opportunities for adults 50 and older.
Registration is open, and classes begin Sept. 8.
Learn more about LLI’s fall offerings and keep your curiosity going: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/08/outreach-cpe-lli-fall-2026.html
