I paid for several, to test features and see if there is value. There is little value in paying, close to zero. The difference between the best models and the best free ones are miniscule. We are hitting a plateau now, with diminishing returns. Talking with AI is a nice UX feature, and is mostly paid, but Qwen has this for free.

Images and video generation is not useful. Coding is slightly useful in very specific cases, but mostly useless. It gives a false sense of fast progress. In the long term it harms productivity. So it works for simple proof of concepts and inspiration/exploring solutions. If you are a junior in a language or software development, avoid it. Otherwise the road to becoming a senior will be long and hard.

The most useful cases is “creativity”, exploring ideas, and inspiration. And getting started with something where you don’t know where to begin. If I want to know something about a topic, I find it as a useful and untrustworthy starting point, nothing can be trusted from AI, but it can introduce you to subjects so that you know what to look for. It is useful for exploring ideas and brainstorming.

So don’t pay, just use the free ones. There is low value in paying. If you have a PC with a mid/high end GPU you can install Jan.ai for free and use models locally also.

I currently use Mistral and Qwen mostly. I still have a subscription to Mistral, and am waiting for it to run out.

The countryside can get pretty lonely. Once you retire there is no more socialising with coworkers. So there is only the family, friends and the community. Moving a way from family, friends and a place with lots of places to build new friendships (hobbies etc) could get lonely.

People sometimes cheat, not okay, but it happens. Most likely the marriage wasn’t going so well, and he got some attention he wanted from someone else. Your mother is hurt and angry. But she does not have the right to deny your continued contact and bond with your dad.

There is no good reason mentioned in your post to end your relationship with your dad to end.

However, how the divorce is handled is more important in my opinion. If he in some major way makes sure she gets a bad unfair deal, then things are different. If he not only cheats, but also does not share in a fair manner, then he is really hurting your mother in a way that is harder to accept.

Most importantly, consenting adults. She is not even just barely an adult anymore. Not letting a 30 year old woman decide for herself is infantilizing.

Have fun and enjoy yourselves!

I am cishet white male, so I am probably ignorant. In my opinion you have no bigger obligation to be an activist than me.

However, I do believe all people have a certain obligation to participate unless the cost is too severe.

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.

• Desmond Tutu

I have a lower cost of participating due to my privileges, so I do. If you consider it probable that you will get significant consequences for activism, then it’s just judgement call only you and your family can make.